Focusing on the involvement of elected members, managers and employees in the Best Value process, this project, sponsored by the Improvement and Development Association, Association for Public Service Excellence, Local Government Information Unit, UNISON, Transport and General Workers Union, GMB Union and the Employers Organisation, included:

Guidance for developing Best Value Strategies (October 1997). Contents: Government Proposals. A seven part definition of Best Value. How should Best Value be assessed? Which services will it cover? Employee and user involvement. Achieving social justice through Best Value Re-organising in-house services. Examining market testing options. Corporate policies. New opportunities for DSOs. Public management and…

A detailed handbook for Tender Evaluation in white collar, professional and manual services (March 1994). Contents: Preparing for tender evaluation. Trade union and user role in tender evaluation. Balancing quality and price. Compliance with specification and contract conditions. Technical and quality assessment. Evaluation matrix. Environment assessment. Financial assessment. TUPE policy. Contract decision. Technical and quality…

A detailed handbook for equal opportunities in competetive tendering. Contents: Legislative context. Who should be involved. Building equalities into the key stages of the tendering process. Implementing equalities in Direct Service Organisations. Trade union guidance.

A detailed handbook for developing public service planning (February 1993). Planning the future of public services. Designing plans for the public sector. Planning and the ‘internal market’. Organising the planning process. Useful planning techniques. Preparing a public service plan. Presenting and using the plan.

For contracts and service level agreements (May 1995). Contents: Contract Packaging. Specification Strategy. Performance Standards. Quality Plan. Method Statements. Equal opportunities. Council policy. Environmental policy. Evaluation criteria. Specification and tendering instructions. Monitoring performance. Contract conditions. Quantifying the work. Pricing mechanisms. Preparing the in-house bid. Preparing for tender evaluation.

A handbook for local authorities, health and other public bodies, user and community organisations and trade unions (April 1998). Contents: Policy Changes affecting user/employee involvement. Defining the user/employee relationship. User/employee involvement in Best Value. User/employee involvement in assessing Best Value and continuous improvement. User/employee involvement in PFI projects. Developing a participative and responsive organisation. Trade…

A guide to implementing Best Value, incorporating the Best Value Code for Quality Employment (November 1998). Contents: Best Value strategic management framework. Corporate policies, strategic objectives and definition of Best Value. Performance standards, indicators and benchmarking. User, employee and public involvement. Best Value Code for Quality Employment. Implementation plan. Baseline profile. Service reviews and competitiveness…

A practical guide for local authorities, health and public bodies, trade unions and community organisations (December 1999). Assessing the need for consultants. Best Value selection and evaluation of consultants. Negotiating model agreements. Trade union options and strategies. Guidance for community organisations. Consultants in Best Value and PPP projects. Assessing consultants proposals. The consultancy market. Appendices:…

A comprehensive report into the impact of the Private Finance Initiative in the Criminal Justice System for the Justice Forum (2003). It maps PFI in the justice system, examines the efficiency and savings myths and the refinancing of PFI projects. The report also examines the impact on employment, accountability, consultation and access to information. It…