Viewpoint: Partnership for best value

Supply Management, Oct 22, 1998

The Confederation of British Industry is joining local government and the trade unions to press for best value legislation in the forthcoming session of Parliament, writes Amanda McIntyre, a senior policy adviser at the CBI. In an open letter sent to the prime minister this month (see below), we stressed that best value should be the driver and therefore the centrepiece of local government reform. It sets out new goals for service delivery and gives councils new freedom and incentives to meet them. We want the government to act on the priority and urgency we all attach to the shift from compulsory competitive tendering (CCT) to best value - and to take heart that legislating for it should not too difficult.

The primary legislation is likely to be cast in fairly broad terms and should not consume parliamentary time unduly. Detailed ground rules should be set out in statutory guidance that can be updated as best practice develops. The major task ahead is to break the CCT mindset - strengthening procurement skills, building innovative partnerships between councils and business, and establishing the link between service improvements and better treatment of staff. Why load the dice against achieving the necessary culture change by leaving outdated legislation on the statute books?

Open letter to the prime minister

As leading members of business, local authorities and trade unions, we are committed to the reform of local government. It is vital that we strengthen the relationship between councils, employees, the private sector and local people, for the good of our communities.

The proposals in the government's white paper on local government take a positive step in the direction of local autonomy and flexibility. This is essential if local authorities are to build the kind of relationships with other partners that we all seek. A crucial element of the reform programme is the replacement of CCT with a new duty on councils to deliver best value. There is a danger that the full benefits of the democratic renewal agenda will be lost without its early implementation, and so it is imperative that this is included in legislation in the next session of Parliament.

Best value should benefit everyone. It will enable councils to review the way they deliver their services, in proper consultation with the public. Business needs new ground rules to offer better quality services and build new partnerships without the constraints of CCT. And employees welcome the recognition under best value, ignored under CCT, of the importance of quality services and good employment practice in the workplace.

Local government will not be re formed if the momentum gained by the piloting of best value in some councils is not extended to all as soon as possible. Appropriate legislation must be part of the next Queen's Speech.

Signed by: Stelio Stefanou, CBI Local Government Procurement Panel; Norman Rose, Business Services Association; Peter Neil, Environmental Services Association; Cllr Sir Jeremy Beecham, Local Government Association; Cllr Harry Jones, LGA; Cllr David Williams, LGA; Cllr Ron Gee, LGA; Jack Dromey, TGWU; Mick Graham, GMB;

Keith Sonnet, UNISON