2.  AUTHORITY'S BEST VALUE DUTY

2.1.  The Contractor acknowledges that:

2.1.1.  the Authority is subject to the Best Value Duty; and

2.1.2.  the provisions of this Schedule 15 (Best Value and Continuous Improvement) are intended to assist the Authority in discharging its Best Value Duty in relation to the Services.

2.2.  The Contractor shall, throughout the Contract Period, but only to the extent of its obligations in this Contract, make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the way in which the Services are provided, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness.

2.3.  The Contractor shall undertake or refrain from undertaking such actions as the Authority shall reasonably request to enable the Authority to comply with Part 1 of the 1999 Act, including:

2.3.1.  complying with requests for information, data or other assistance made by the Authority in pursuance of its Best Value Duty including to:

(a)  facilitate any inspection or audit undertaken by any Relevant Authority in connection with the Best Value Duty in respect of the Services, including any inspection undertaken with a view to verifying the Authority's compliance with its Best Value Duty pursuant to Sections 10 and 11 of the 1999 Act;

(b)  facilitate the Authority preparing any statement, in response to an Authority's auditor's report;

(c)  assist the Authority in relation to any action taken by the Secretary of State;

(d)  enable the Authority to report on the Best Value Performance Indicators and any other data requirements that may be prescribed by any Relevant Authority;

(e)  complying with all requests by the Authority to procure the attendance of specific officers or employees of the Contractor or any sub-contractor (or to procure attendance of any of its or their sub-contractors) at any meetings of the Authority at which the Services are to be discussed (but not, otherwise than in exceptional circumstances, more than [insert number] in any one (1) Contract Year);

(f)  permitting any Best Value Inspector [or other Relevant Authority empowered to inspect the Authority's compliance with Part 1 of the 1999 Act], in connection with the exercise of his statutory powers and duties, at all reasonable times and upon reasonable notice, access to:

(i)  the Facility;

(ii)  any document or data relating to the Services;

(iii)  the personnel of Contractor or any Sub-Contractor.