Memorandum by SOLACE (AC 26)
THE FUTURE OF THE AUDIT COMMISSION
ANALYSIS AND
DISSEMINATION OF
BEST PRACTICE
The public dissemination of best practice is a greatly valued
function. However, future reports might be better for a focus
on the substance of the issues being addressed rather than populist
sub-editing that means to shock—reinforcing negative stereotypes
about public service provision.
INSPECTION
Inspection is being given an increasingly important role
in relation to the improvement of public services. The Audit Commission
increasingly works with other inspectorates on a wide range of
areas, including:
— Social Services Reviews with the Social Services
Inspectorate;
— support to the Office for Standards in Education
(OFSTED) on inspections of local education authorities;
— crime and disorder with HM Inspectorate of Constabulary
and, shortly;
— co-ordinating work with the new Commission for
Health Improvement.
Public services would benefit greatly from a greater degree
of co-ordination of inspection duties. The proliferation of inspection
duties between different bodies is threatening to overload public
services. It is threatening to become a distraction rather than
aid to service improvement.
There is a need for an evaluation of the added value of such
proliferation of inspection functions.
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Performance indicators managed by the Audit Commission have
benefited greatly from Audit Commission refinement over the years.
Bringing the collation of these forward in the year will mean
that they will become more timely for comparative work supporting
best value. There is now the need for more work to determine suitable
outcome measures.
There is also now a significant role that the Audit Commission
can take up to ensure that comparisons between public, private
and voluntary sectors might be better facilitated. Without this
work there is a danger of a duplication of work across local government
and great pressure directed toward the private sector seeking
comparative information.
However, the preoccupation with nationally determined performance
indicators can sometimes distract the focus of VFM Audits from
a proper evaluation of:
— Performance in relation to an organisation's overall
objectives/priorities;
The Audit Commission could do a great deal more to advise
on the adoption of quality systems and procedures in public services—evaluating
their value and successful deployment in different settings.
INTERNAL AUDIT
ROLE IN
BEST VALUE
Delays in publication of recommendations for the future of
the internal audit role in best value have given rise to great
concern in preparing local capacity for best value reviews.
January 2000
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