National Association of Empty Property Practitioners

NAEPP has produced a Code of Guidance on the application of Best Value Performance Indicator 64 (the government's Best Value indicator for measuring local authorities' performance in tackling empty homes). The Guidance is designed to help local authorities and the Audit Commission address the many issues of interpretation that can arise around this PI. The aim is to ensure as much consistency as possible in the way it is reported.

The Guidance has been recognised by the DCLG and the Audit Commission as authoritative and we are grateful to both organisations for their willingness to work with us to develop it. The current Guidance (for 2007-08) can be downloaded here. (Additionally, there are earier versions in the Information Library). For further information, please email Graham Everett who heads up our BVPI64/Performance Monitoring working group.

Feedback

We're interested in feedback on:

• the Guidance
• the PI
• how auditors audit the PI

Either contact Graham (see above) or - if you're a NAEPP member - post your comments in the BVPI64 discussion forum. We are particularly keen to intervene where we feel auditors are not interpreting the Guidance correctly and we will take issues up with the Audit Commission or individual auditors where necessary.

NAEPP's view of BVPI64

Please note that NAEPP was not involved in designing BVPI64. The fact that NAEPP has produced guidelines to help achieve consistency should not be taken to imply that we think the current indicator provides a satisfactory measure of performance. We do however believe the performance of local authorities in tackling empty properties is important and should be given a high profile in the assessment framework for local authorities.

NAEPP is currently developing its own proposals for how and when such assessments should be made and we will work with the DCLG and the Audit Commission to make those proposals a reality. And we greatly appreciate the willingness of DCLG and the Audit Commission to support us in developing our Guidance: we believe this remains a model for co-operation between central government and practitioners which can and should be developed and replicated.

Other Resources

Note that full members of NAEPP also have access to the full NAEPP Library which has links to other resources relevant to BVPI64. And as noted earlier, all members of NAEPP can access the Discussion Forums, including the special forum devoted to BVPI64.