Performance indicators (also known as Best Value Indicators) are set by departments in central government to measure the performance of the local authorities in England.
Check the answers below to some of our most frequently asked questions (FAQ)
FAQ
- How were they developed and why do they exist?
- What criteria is used to measure performance?
- Are new performance indicators agreed each year or are the existing indicators just updated?
- Do local authorities develop their own performance plans each year and can I get my own personal copy?
- Who measures the Council’s performance?
How were they developed and why do they exist?
Performance indicators exist as all local authorities are bound by a "duty of best value". This means your local authority needs to demonstrate they are trying to continuously improve the efficiency, effectiveness and cost of the service they deliver. To measure their performance accurately, central government departments set measures of performance against key service delivery areas.
Examples include:
- No. of GCSE’s achieved
- Level of waste re-cycling
- Amount of council tax collected
What criteria is used to measure performance?
Performance indicators are measured using the following criteria:
- Strategic objectives - why dose the service exist and what it is trying to achieve
- Cost / efficiency – the cost of the service and the efficiency of achieving their objectives
- Service delivery outcomes – how well the service operates to achieve its objectives
- Quality – the quality of the service delivered, with emphasis on the users experience of the service
- Fair access – how accessible the service is to all users
Are new performance indicators agreed each year or are the existing indicators just updated?
Each year the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) works with other government departments to set indicators for the next year. Performance indicators cover the financial year (1 April to 31 March).
Each year there'll be a number of changes, but as far as possible the government tries to limit these. Many performance indicators have been in effect since April 2000, but new indicators are also set and existing indicators may be revised either to improve their definition or to reflect a central government policy.
Do local authorities develop their own performance plans each year and can I get my own personal copy?
It's the duty of all English councils under the Local Government Act 1999 to produce an annual plan, and to make a summary of the plan available to the households and business within its administrative area.
From 2002 councils are expected to put this summary of performance within the annual council tax statements that are distributed to each house.Your council produces a full performance plan, which isn't distributed to every household. The council will make this plan available at key public buildings such as libraries, town halls and council information points within its area.
Contact your council to find out where your council has distributed copies of their full performance plan.
Who measures the Council’s performance?
The Audit Commission is in charge of the process.
A number of Inspectorates inspect local authority services following a review, and these include: OFSTED, SSI, Benefit Fraud Inspectorate, Planning Inspectorate, Housing Inspectorate, and the Audit Commission.
Where performance standards or targets exist, the respective government department assesses the performance. Examples: ODPM would measure performance standards against a fixed level of performance in respect of waste, housing, planning, transport, corporate health, DfES measures educational performance, DoH measures Social Services performance against a defined standard or target.
For more information on English performance indicators please visit the ODPM’s Local Government Performance site
If you’ve any comments or require further information on your council’s performance indicators, please contact us
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