Delivering the Best Value Principles
In 1999, the State Government introduced the Best Value Victoria policy and Ministerial code for its implementation. The policy was applied to services provided by Council based on the following six principles:
1. All services must meet quality and cost standards 2. All services must be responsive to community needs 3. A service must be accessible to those for whom it is intended
4. A Council must achieve continuous improvement in its provision of services
5. A Council must develop a program of regular consultation with its community relation to the services it provides
6. A Council must report regularly, at least once a year, on its achievements to its community in relation to the Best Value principles
Horsham Rural City Council has had a Best Value Committee in place for more than a decade to oversee the Best Value Program.
In 2010, the Essential Services Commission of Victoria was engaged to undertake the development of a State-wide performance monitoring framework for Local Government service delivery. It was envisaged that this framework would replace Best Value, however, following the appointment of a new State Government in late 2010, Councils were advised that they would not be proceeding with this framework for Local Government performance monitoring. Since then, the State Government has been considering options for Local Government benchmarking as part of its wider policies in the Local Government sector, however, Councils have not been advised of the future direction as yet.
Horsham Rural City Council has continued to follow the Best Value framework in delivering its services since that time. Details of how Council has applied the Best Value principles over the past year to achieve positive outcomes for the community are provided below.
1. MONITOR AND REVIEW BEST VALUE IMPLEMENTATION REPORTS
Best Value implementation reports across a range of services continue to be monitored and reviewed on a regular basis through Interplan (Council’s integrated reporting system) and the Best Value Committee.
2. STRATEGIC SERVICE REVIEWS
Kerbside Recycling Collection and Processing Service
Council is currently conducting a review of the Kerbside Recycling Collection and Processing Service. This review will examine the eff ectiveness of the current level of service and opportunities for improvement and/or enhancement to the service.
Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) Step Records/Enterprise Content Management Program
This year, Horsham Rural City Council participated in the Steps Records/Enterprise Content Management Program, a benchmarking activity against a number of other Councils in Victoria. The Enterprise Content Management Maturity 1st Assessment identifi ed 17 areas for improvement. An action plan has been developed and improvement processes will be put in place during the year ahead.
Key Strategic Indicators
Reports are prepared against Key Strategic Indicators identifi ed in the Council Plan on a quarterly basis. Internal Audit Program
As part of Council’s ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and best practice, the Audit Committee oversees an internal audit program. The Audit Committee comprises of two - Councillors Cr Michael Ryan and Cr David Grimble, three independent community representatives - Mr Robin Webb, Mr Roy Henwood and Mr Geoff Price, and ex-offi cio members - the Chief Executive, Director of Corporate and Economic, Finance Manager, Organisational Risk Offi cer and Council’s external and internal auditors.
During the past year, the following internal audits were conducted by Horsham Rural City Council:
Following each of these audits, action plans were developed and progress will continue to be monitored through the Audit Committee and Interplan.
38 Horsham Annual Report 2011 - 2012
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128