Best value is the system which requires councils in Scotland to make continuous improvements in the standard of their services.

Unlike the inspection arrangements in England, it does not involve star ratings or point scoring, but it has been a successful method of putting pressure on councils to ensure their performance is of the highest standard.

There have been brickbats and bouquets for councils. West Lothian, for example, was acclaimed as a highly efficient council while some authorities have been criticised for failing to demonstrate best value.

One such authority is West Dunbartonshire Council which was found by the Accounts Commission, the body responsible for the audit of councils, to be failing to deliver.

One of the merits of the system is that councils whose performance is not up to standard are required to prepare an improvement plan, with a deadline set for its implementation.

In January, the commission published a progress report on West Dunbartonshire. Encouragingly, this acknowledged the council's increased commitment to continuous improvement and the progress it had made.

However, the commission was not satisfied with the pace of progress. It urged the authority to ‘increase the momentum of change.' In particular, it wanted to see the council prioritise improvements to relationships between members and officers and deliver changes such as more robust financial planning.

The commission has asked controller of audit, Caroline Gardner, to produce another report on the council in 18 months. Best value has been a successful innovation which should be extended across the public sector. So, it is encouraging the Scottish Government has said it will support the roll out of the system in the rest of the public sector.

David Scott is a freelance journalist and former politcal editor of The Scotsman