Update: Best Value Action Plan
11/11/2025
Here’s a quick update on how we’re doing with the Council’s Best Value Action Plan. This plan is all about making sure we’re delivering services efficiently, improving continuously, and getting the best outcomes for our communities.
What is Best Value?
It’s a legal duty for councils in Scotland to show good governance, manage resources well, and keep improving. Our plan focuses on seven big themes:
- Vision and leadership
- Governance and accountability
- Effective use of resources
- Partnership working
- Working with communities
- Sustainability
- Fairness and equality
Council refreshed the plan in August 2025 and agreed to give regular progress reports. Here’s the latest:
Progress Highlights
- Vision & Leadership:
- We’re improving committee reports so they link better to strategic plans.
- Our online engagement tool, Moray Engage, is live and being used for community input.
- Self-assessment work is underway using the PSIF framework (a national improvement tool).
- Governance & Accountability:
- Business continuity plans for critical services are being updated, but progress is slower than hoped.
- Cyber resilience work is ongoing – training has started, but recruitment delays have slowed things down.
- Management restructure is halfway there; some key posts still need filled.
- Effective Use of Resources:
- Stage 3 of the Transformation Strategy is approved – this is about making services sustainable and fit for the future.
- Capital planning is improving, with less slippage than before.
- Financial strategy update is planned for early 2026 to link with transformation work.
- Partnership Working:
- Work with Community Planning Partners is moving forward, but slower than expected due to leadership changes.
- Locality plans are nearly complete and will keep evolving.
- Sustainability:
- Updated draft Climate Change Strategy is agreed.
- A subgroup of Moray Economic Partnership is working on shared priorities for sustainable development. Deadline extended to March 2026.
What’s Next?
- More guidance and training for report authors to make committee papers clearer.
- Continued push on cyber resilience and business continuity planning.
- Recruitment for key management posts.
- Aligning transformation and financial planning for the long term.
- Progressing climate and sustainability work with partners.
Why does this matter?
Delivering Best Value helps us meet legal duties, manage risks, and make sure we’re using resources wisely. It also supports our corporate priorities: tackling poverty, building a greener economy, and creating thriving communities.
Thanks for all your efforts in making this happen – it’s a big team effort!