Three-quarters of senior local authority officers think best value plays an essential role in improving local services, according to a survey commissioned by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
The figures, part of a survey conducted by a Cardiff University research unit, indicate that best value enjoys more widespread support than previously thought.

Nick Raynsford, the local government minister, said: 鈥淏est value is well bedded in 鈥� now we must all work hard to deliver the improvements local people want and have a right to expect.鈥�

The census also found that some 86% of local authority officers believe that best-value review recommendations are leading to better services.

However, most respondents thought that inspection costs were too high. Paul Jenks, chair of the Local Government Association housing executive, said: 鈥淭here is a bureaucratic element to best value, but its principles are ones with which we would generally agree.鈥�

Source

Housing Today