Part 1Best value and accountability
Duty to secure best value
C11Local authorities' duty to secure best value
1
It is the duty of a local authority to make arrangements which secure best value.
2
Best value is continuous improvement in the performance of the authority’s functions.
3
In securing best value, the local authority shall maintain an appropriate balance among—
a
the quality of its performance of its functions;
b
the cost to the authority of that performance; and
c
the cost to persons of any service provided by it for them on a wholly or partly rechargeable basis.
4
In maintaining that balance, the local authority shall have regard to—
a
efficiency;
b
effectiveness;
c
economy; and
d
the need to meet the equal opportunity requirements.
5
The local authority shall discharge its duties under this section in a way which contributes to the achievement of sustainable development.
6
In measuring the improvement of the performance of a local authority’s functions for the purposes of this section, regard shall be had to the extent to which the outcomes of that performance have improved.
7
In this section, “equal opportunity requirements” has the same meaning as in Section L2 of Part II of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46).