The Local Government (Whole Authority Analyses and Improvement Plans) (Wales) Order 2002

Welsh Statutory Instruments

2002 No. 886 (W.101)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WALES

The Local Government (Whole Authority Analyses and Improvement Plans) (Wales) Order 2002

Made

27th March 2002

Coming into force

1st April 2002

The National Assembly for Wales makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred on it by sections 5(2), 6(3), 7(6) and 29(1) of the Local Government Act 1999(1):

Name, commencement, interpretation and application

1.—(1) The name of this Order is the Local Government (Whole Authority Analyses and Improvement Plans) (Wales) Order 2002 and it shall come into force on 1st April 2002.

(2) In this Order—

• “improvement plan” (“cynllun gwella”) means a best value performance plan within the meaning of section 6(1) of the Act;

• “the Act” (“y Ddeddf”) means the Local Government Act 1999; and

• “whole authority analysis” (“dadansoddiad awdurdod cyfan”) means a best value review of all of a best value authority’s functions within the meaning of section 5 of the Act.

(3) This Order applies to best value authorities in Wales with the exception of those specified in section 1(1)(d) and (e) of the Act.

Period of analyses

2.  Best value authorities must conduct a whole authority analysis by 30th June 2003 and must conduct a further whole authority analysis by the end of each subsequent period of five years.

Date for publication of improvement plans

3.  Best value authorities must publish their improvement plan for a financial year by 30th June of the year to which the plan relates.

Date for sending copies of auditors' reports

4.  Copies of an auditor’s report relating to an improvement plan shall be sent in accordance with section 7(5) of the Act by 31st October of the year to which the plan relates.

Revocation

5.  The Local Government (Best Value) (Reviews and Performance Plans) (Wales) Order 2000(2) is hereby revoked.

Signed on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales under section 66(1) of the Government of Wales Act 1998(3).

Rhodri Morgan

The First Minister of the National Assembly

27th March 2002

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Part I of the Local Government Act 1999 imposes duties on local and other authorities to conduct best value reviews of their functions and to prepare a best value performance plan (in this Order called an “improvement plan”) for each financial year.

The period within which an authority in Wales (except one specified in section 1(1)(d) and (e) of the Act) is to review all its functions (in this Order called a “whole authority analysis”) is to be specified by Order made by the National Assembly for Wales. The National Assembly for Wales may also specify by Order the date before which an authority must publish its improvement plan for a financial year and the date by which copies of an auditor’s report relating to that plan shall be sent to the authority, the Audit Commission and, if required, the National Assembly for Wales.

This Order specifies the review period, the date before which an authority’s plan for a financial year must be published and the date by which copies of an auditor’s report are to be sent. It replaces the Local Government (Best Value) (Reviews and Performance Plans) (Wales) Order 2000, which is revoked, and should be read in conjunction with the guidance entitled “Wales Programme for Improvement: Guidance for Local Authorities” issued by the National Assembly for Wales.

(1)

1999 c. 27.

(2)

S.I. 2000/1271 (W. 97).

(3)

1998 c. 38.