In 1997 the Blair Government was elected promising to sweep aside the much-maligned Compulsory Competitive Tendering (CCT) regime.

Then-minister Hilary Armstrong, who appeared frustrated by a much-needed culture change in local government, developed with local government bodies, including the Association for Public Service Excellence, the statutory definition to obtain ‘best value by securing economic, efficient and effective services'. In doing so, she promised to allow decisions to rest with local councils, albeit reserving interventionist powers.