What is best value?

Best value is a tool for local authorities to achieve continuous improvement in the delivery of its services. Best value requires councils to:

Challenge

  • Why do we provide these services?
  • Are we providing the services the public want/need in the most efficient and effective way?
  • How can we provide them better?

Consult

  • How do Stakeholders (local residents, staff etc.) feel about services?
  • Do Stakeholders have a genuine say about how services are delivered?
  • Are the results of consultation used to inform improvements in services?

Compare

  • How does Lambeth's performance compare with other councils?
  • What can we learn from the top performers?

Compete

  • Are our services provided in the most economic, efficient and effective way?
  • Could our services be provided more efficiently by another organisation?

In Lambeth we also use best value to explore how we can better...

Collaborate 

  • Do we work effectively in partnership with other organisations in Lambeth to achieve a joined up approach to service delivery?

Best Value Performance Plan

Each year Lambeth must produce a Best Value Performance Plan which provides:

  • An outline of what Lambeth's priorities and plans are for the following year
  • How Lambeth will achieve them
  • A Summary of our performance over the past year
  • Details of completed best value reviews and those which are currently underway.