Best Value Fire and rescue
Consultation on the proposed Best Value audit of Scottish fire and rescue authorities and services
November 2010
This consultation paper invites comment on the Accounts Commission’s proposals for the introduction of Best Value audit in Scottish fire and rescue authorities and services.
Background
Local authorities in Scotland have a statutory duty to deliver best value and continuous improvement in their services. We have now completed audits of Best Value and Community Planning in every council in Scotland and have now started a programme of work to cover all police authorities. These audits have helped to improve performance and accountability in local government and have brought unsatisfactory performance to the public’s attention.
Fire and rescue forms a vital part of emergency response and community safety services. Some aspects of Best Value have been covered in earlier exercises, particularly the national Review of service reform in Scottish fire and rescue authorities, carried out in 2007. So far, however, we have not carried out any dedicated audit, covering all key aspects of Best Value in fire and rescue.
There is, therefore, a case for now extending the audit of Best Value to fire and rescue, in line with the broad timetable set out by the Accounts Commission in 2008. However, we are conscious of the financial pressures currently facing fire and rescue and the potential restructuring of the service. Any audit will, therefore, need to be proportionate and risk-based and sensitive to this wider context.
Before making any decisions about the introduction of Best Value audits of Scottish fire and rescue, we want to consider comments on our proposals from the general public, members and officers in fire and rescue authorities and services, and representatives of partner organisations, such as COSLA, SOLACE, and the Scottish Government. We will be holding meetings with council convenors and chief fire officers, to discuss our proposals in more detail.
What next?
Following this consultation, we will reach a decision in early 2011 about the audit of Best Value in fire and rescue, and will then publish our proposed approach and any relevant timetable for carrying out this work.