Report Summary
This report provides members of the Scottish Police Authority's Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee with an overview of work that is under way in Forensic Services to undertake a Best Value self-assessment exercise.
To access the full document please open the PDF document above.
To view as accessible content please use the sections below. (Note that tables and some appendixes are not available as accessible content).
Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee - 15 August 2024
Date : 15 August 2024
Location : online
Duty of Best Value
The duty of Best Value in public services is:
• To make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in performance while maintaining an appropriate balance between quality and cost; and in making those arrangements and securing that balance,
• to have regard to economy, efficiency, effectiveness, the equal opportunities requirements, and to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.
Best Value characteristics have been grouped to reflect the key themes which will support the development of an effective organisational context from which public services can deliver key outcomes and ultimately achieve best value. The seven Best Value themes are:
• Vision and Leadership
• Governance and Accountability
• Use of Resources
• Partnership and Collaborative working
• Working with Communities
• Sustainability
• Fairness and Equality
The duty of Best Value for Forensic Services as part of the Scottish Police Authority is set out in Chapter 5 (section 37) of the Police and Fire Reform Act (Scotland) 2012 (‘the Act’). The Act states: ”It is the duty of the Authority to make arrangements which secure best value for the Authority (that is, a continuous improvement in the carrying out of the Authority’s functions).”
Accountable Officers appointed by the Principal Accountable Officer (PAO) for the Scottish Administration have a specific responsibility to ensure that arrangements have been made to secure Best Value. The SPA Chief Executive Officer holds this responsibility for the whole of the SPA. The Director of Forensic Services is responsible for developing and implementing Best Value principles within Forensic Services.
