What are Best Value Performance Indicators?

Best Value Indicators are measures of performance set by the departments in central government. They are called Best Value Performance Indicators or BVPI’s, as they have only been set since the duty of best value on local authorities came into effect under the Local Government Act 1999. Prior to Best value, the Audit Commission set similar measures of performance.

How were they developed and why do they exist?

Best Value Performance Indicators exist because of the duty of best value, which requires local authorities to seek to achieve continuous improvement by having regard to the efficiency, effectiveness and economy of their service delivery. To see if local authorities are achieving best value central government departments set measures of performance against key service delivery areas.

How many Housing Benefit and Council Tax BVPIs are there and what do they cover?

For Housing Benefit and Council Tax there are 6 BVPI’s. One of these is to do with the amount of Council Tax collected in the year. This is called the BV9 Performance Indicator.

BV9 - % of Council Tax collected

This indicator measures the % of domestic council tax received as a % of the total council tax expected to be received by the council. The figure is calculated every quarter.

The collection rate for the year 2007/08 was 94.27%.

You can get further information about these and other Performance Indicators by visiting the Government’s BVPI website