Communities and Local Government

• Local government
• Clarification notes on Best Value Performance Indicators 2001/02

Local government

Clarification notes on Best Value Performance Indicators 2001/02

Summary chapter 1 p.9

Paragraph 3, the reference should be to section 11.1.2 not 11.3.

Corporate Health chapter 5 pp.22-43

BV 157: All local authorities should refer to the definition on p. 35 (repeated on p.39), as described for National Park Authorities and Joint Waste Disposal Authorities Corporate Health BVPIs, and NOT to the indicator headline as per p23. The headline is expressed differently on p. 23, but it does not make any difference to the actual interpretation or calculation.

BV 16: If authorities decide to use the user satisfaction survey to calculate the number of economically active disabled people in the local authority area, then:

Take out all of the people over 65 and all those under 18 from the survey returns. From these people, only include those that answered "yes" to both of the following questions (in the survey) "Do you have any long-standing illness, disability or infirmity?" and "Does this illness or disability limit your activities in any way?".

Social Services chapter 7 pp52 - 57

BV 50: The numerator, "Source:" "items 6 or 8" should be "items 8 or 10" to reflect the difference between the OC1 returns for 1999/2000 and 2000/2001.

BV 51: "NB Detailed definition subject to change as a result of changes to the RO3 return" should be deleted.

BV 52: In the indicator headline "and older people" should be inserted after "adults". ("Cost of intensive social care for adults and older people...")

BV 55: In the indicator headline "and older" should be inserted after "adult". ("Clients receiving a review as a percentage of adult and older clients...")

BV 59: This indicator should be measured as "Assessments per 1000 population aged 65 or over" not per head of population aged 65 or over.

BV 61: The numerator, "Source:" After "BE3" the word "other" should be repeated. (BE3 (Other other children's and family services))

Housing and related services chapter 8 p 65

BV 72: "Total or partial loss of space or water heating between 30th April and 1st November"; the prescribed period (in working days) should be 3 (not 1 as currently stated).

BV 74 and 75: There is no statutory requirement for authorities to undertake a tenant survey in 2001/02, but have the freedom to do so if they so wish.

Waste chapter 9 pp72-73

BV 82a, b: As stated in the 'Best Value Performance Indicators 2001/2002', some amendments to the interpretation of indicators BVs 82a and 82b are necessary. These changes are set out in the document " Guidance on Municipal Waste Management Strategies", published in March.

Transport chapter 9 p77 - 79

BV 93, 95 and 100: The website address quoted in the definitions for indicators BV 93, 95, and 100 has been incorrectly quoted, please go to this page on the DfT web site: Best Value Performance Indicators for Transport 2001/2002 - Instructions to Highway Authorities on carrying out Best Value Performance Indicators 93, 95, 100 And 105, for 2001/02

BV 96 and 97: In the definitions for BV96 (last sub-paragraph of definition) and BV97 (second sub-paragraph of definition) the reference to DETR guidance should read:

"See guidance in Best Value road condition surveys for local highway authorities, DETR, May 2001".

BV 178: The percentage of total length of footpaths and other rights of way which were easy to use by members of the public.

For clarification the definition is: The indicator is the total length of right of way, which were easy to use, as a percentage of the total length of all rights of way. Rights of way appear on the definitive map of public rights of way for the highway authority area and are numbered. "Easy to use" means:

(i) signposted or waymarked where they leave the road in accordance with the authority's duty under s.27 of the Countryside Act 1968 and to the extent necessary to allow users to follow the path (a public right of way wholly within a built up area and with a hard surface provided along its complete length and with a clearly defined route may be excluded from measurement);

(ii) free from unlawful obstructions or other interference, (including overhanging vegetation) to the public's right of passage;

(iii) surface and lawful barriers (e.g. stiles, gates) in good repair and to a standard necessary to enable the public to use the way without undue inconvenience.

Surveys to assess 'easy to use' should use the methodology developed by the Countryside Agency and the CSS as a benchmark standard, which is based on the minimum 5% random sample of lengths.

Planning chapter 9 p81

BV 179: The new BVPI on "The percentage of standard searches carried out in 10 working days" should be BV 179, and not BV 112 as currently listed.

Cultural and related services chapter 10 pp88-89

BV 117: BV 117 should have an "amended" tag. (It now measures "The number of physical visits per 1,000 population to public library premises.")

Cross-cutting Community Safety chapter 11 p.100

BV 176: Figures for BV 176 should reflect the situation as at 31 March 2002 and not at 31 March 2001.

Annex A p. 120

Figure 1
"BVPI no." column: should be BV 74 and BV 75, not BV 174 and BV 175