ABSTRACT
For the Welsh unitaries and some authorities in England, the culture changes required by the Best Value regime have been additional to those accompanying a recent reorganisation of local government. The Best Value pilot studies are being evaluated in England by Warwick University and in Wales by the Cardiff Business School and they are being monitored by external auditors. This work will facilitate a thorough critical review of the process, yet there is much which can also be learned through self analysis by the pilots themselves and by sharing their experiences with others. This paper explains how Torfaen County Borough Council responded to the challenge of Best Value, outlines the corporate approach taken by the authority, and provides a perspective from the head of a service department.
