23 November 2001
The review, launched by Local Government Secretary Stephen Byers at Labour's annual conference in October, is due to report by the end of this year. But delays in naming the team have now thrown that timetable into question.
Byers ordered the reappraisal of Best Value to placate the trade unions and head off a damaging row over public services during the Brighton conference. But concerns have been mounting in recent weeks that the review has not received the attention needed because of more pressing political concerns.
One source close to the review told Public Finance: 'There is a belief that ministers are genuine in wanting to deal with the issues, but there is certainly a feeling that minds are elsewhere at the moment.'
John Serle, chair of the Society of Information Technology Management's Best Value group, said the review lacked any real focus. 'It's difficult to work out who is driving the process and who are the agencies involved. At the moment I don't have any idea who is in charge of this.'
He also said it was 'ludicrous' to think the review panel could come up with any meaningful recommendations in the time that they had left. 'If they are trying to respond to union concerns they will have to come up with something substantial, in which case it is going to take a lot longer,' he said.
A spokesman from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions said: 'We agree that the timetable for the review is tight. But it is important that it reports to the secretary of state by the end of the year, so that he can consider its recommendations early in the new year and, where possible, implement changes from April. We think that a short but intensive review can make good progress on a number of issues.
'There will inevitably be a need for ongoing work after the review completes its task. But the chair, Nick Raynsford, wants the review group to set out clear signposts and to find agreement wherever possible in the time available. He will press all sides to make the maximum progress in the time available.'
PFnov2001
