37.1.  Authority's Best Value Duty

37.1.1.  The Service Provider acknowledges that:

a)  the Authority is subject to the Best Value Duty;

b)  the provisions of this clause 37 (Best Value) are intended to assist the Authority in discharging its Best Value Duty in relation to the Services; and

c)  the provisions of this clause 37.1.1 shall apply in respect of the obligations of the Contractor and the Authority concerning the Best Value Duty and the 1999 Act generally.

37.1.2.  The Service Provider shall, throughout the Service Period, but only to the extent of its obligations in this Agreement, 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.

37.1.3.  The Service Provider 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:

a)  supporting and assisting the Authority in preparing Best Value Performance Plans and conducting Best Value Reviews in relation to the [  ] services of which the Services form part;

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

i)  enable the Authority to prepare a Best Value Performance Plan;

ii)  enable the Authority to conduct a Best Value Review;

iii)  facilitate the audit of the Authority's Best Value Performance Plan by the Authority's auditor pursuant to Section 7 of the 1999 Act;

iv)  facilitate the Authority preparing any statement, in response to an Authority's auditor's report, pursuant to Section 9 of the 1999 Act;

v)  facilitate any inspection 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;

vi)  assist the Authority in relation to any action taken by the Secretary of State under Section 15 Local Government Act 1999;

vii)  enable the Authority to comply with any Government Departmental Direction;

viii)  enable the Authority to report on the Best Value Performance Indicators;

ix)  assist the Authority in any Comprehensive Performance Assessment;

x)  enable the Authority to comply with the Publication of Information Direction 2000 (England and Wales);

c)  complying with all requests by the Authority to procure the attendance of specific officers or employees of the Service Provider or any Sub-Contractor (or any of its or their sub-contractors) at any meetings of the Authority at which the Services are to be discussed (but not, otherwise in exceptional circumstances, more than twice in any one year);

d)  permitting any Best Value Inspector, in connection with the exercise of his statutory powers and duties, at all reasonable times and upon reasonable notice, access to:

i)  the Service Provider's Premises;

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

iii)  any Sub-Contractor, agent or employee of the Service Provider.