North West Centre of Excellence

News Update

Week Ending 4th August 2006

OGC Energy Event

A number of delegates attended a very timely and interesting presentation around Energy procurement last week.  With increasing energy prices being reported in the press a unique insight was given into energy buying and potential savings.  If you are looking to save further on Energy then the NWCE is recommending the OGC.buying solutions contract that is also supported by the OGC.  If you require further details please email Neil Hind.

A copy of the slides can be found here.

National Framework Agreement for Telecare

– Part A (including equipment, installation, maintenance, monitoring and response services)

The Department of Health will release £80m over the next two years via the Preventative Technology Grant, to help local authorities and their partners address the challenges of a changing and ageing society.  The Minister for Health in wanting to support the effective use of these funds, charged the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency to undertake a cross agency national procurement exercise which has resulted in a National Framework for Telecare.

The National Framework Agreement (NFA) is available to all local authorities, health, housing, voluntary and other organisations that currently procure Telecare equipment/services.

By contracting nationally on behalf of all stakeholders, the framework agreement will provide the following benefits:

• Cost reductions for equipment and services - Indicative savings, based on existing prices being levied to the public sector are in the region of 13.9%.

• Influencing spend and managing markets - The NFA will pool expertise from individual organisations, share best practice and support stakeholders in delivering the best possible service to the vulnerable and elderly.

• Rationalise suppliers and ensure minimum standards of technical compliance - suppliers on the NFA have been subject to rigorous commercial and technical assessment, precluding the need for individual stakeholder procurement exercises.

• Access the framework via the e-catalogue - The NFA is available to all stakeholder organisations via a secure electronic catalogue. This allows instant access to products, services and prices from a variety of suppliers.

The information pack will help you to: 

• identify the participating suppliers on the national framework agreement for telecare part A

• access and make the most of the benefits and savings associated with the framework agreement

• know who to contact for help or clarification.

 For more information about the framework click here.

Tools for transformational government

Local authority managers responsible for transforming councils' services in the Government's transformational government (t-gov) agenda can now benefit from a new resource on the Improvement Network. http://list.idea-knowledge.gov.uk/t/2113/77557/691/0/

Comprehensive Spending Review 2007

As part of its preparations for the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR07), the Government is taking forward a fundamental assessment of its expenditure, with the aim of maximising value for money across all public spending.

An interim report 'Releasing the resources to meet the challenges ahead: value for money in the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review' was published on 13 July 2006, setting out progress on both the implementation of the current efficiency programme and the Government's strategy for driving further value for money improvements over the CSR07 period.  Click here to download the full report.

National Audit Office Review

The National Audit Office (NAO) is carrying out a review of the introduction of Local Area Agreements (LAAs) and their effect on third sector (voluntary and community sectors) organisations. The NAO is particularly interested in establishing how LAAs have changed the amounts and types of funding which local authorities provide to third sector organisations (TSOs), and in gathering examples of new partnerships with the third sector, which may have occurred as a result of the LAAs.

The NAO would like to know of any changes in processes that local government procurement officers are making as a result of LAAs. It would also like to know if there is any guidance or discussion regarding new ways to integrate TSOs into commissioning and procurement procedures.

If you would like to contribute to the NAO's work and receive a copy of its report when published, please contact Shawnee Keck at shawnee.keck@nao.gsi.gov.uk or telephone 020 7798 7368.

NAO Efficiency Toolkit

The Toolkit aims to provide practical guidance on assessing an organisation's current approach to achieving efficiency.  http://www.nao.org.uk/efficiency/toolkit/index.htm.

Can you help?

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is trying to identify if there are any Framework Agreements in place for Desktop Computer Hardware Maintenance Services.  Their current provider is Computerland.

If you can help please contact Charlotte Taylor, Procurement Officer at Solihull MBC by telephone: 0121 704 8507 or e-mail: ctaylor@solihull.gov.uk.

Children's Commissioner publishes annual report

The Office of the Children's Commissioner has published its first annual report, highlighting its key work and achievements.  Read more…… http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/?asset=News&id=42936

DCLG Capability Review

Capability Reviews were launched for all major Government departments by the Cabinet Secretary in October 2005. As the Prime Minister noted in his foreword, they are the Civil Service's side of the public service reform bargain. Delivering public services in the future will require better professional skills and increased flexibility to meet the needs of a diverse population with higher expectations of public services, and respond to profound global and domestic challenges.

The DCLG Review begins in September. For more information on the reviews see

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/newsroom/news_releases/2006/060719_capability.asp

Wiring Diagram

The RCE Programme Management Team have recently updated the wiring diagram which gives details of all national strand leads.  Click here to view the document or visit the RCE website.

EVENTS

4Ps Gateway Review Training

A Gateway Review can cast a critical, independent eye over procurement projects at crucial stages in their development. The reviews are conducted by a team of professionals who aren’t part of the project team and who can look objectively over the aims of projects and the structure of the deal.

4ps Gateway reviews are helping local authority project owners to deliver successful projects.  The North West Centre of Excellence is now offering Gateway Review training, which would normally cost £500, FREE OF CHARGE.

Further information, including an overview of the Gateway Review process and profile of a gateway reviewer can be found here.

Forthcoming dates and venues for this training are as follows:

If you would like to attend please complete a booking form by clicking here - and return by email to Viv Greatwich at the NWCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Bargain Hunt – how to save £100m+ a year

Showing at The Palace Hotel, Manchester October 3, 2006

The NWCE has identified a catalogue of savings/efficiency opportunities from initiatives that can deliver more than £100million a year for local authorities in the north west.

The Bargain Hunt conference will reveal how local authorities can take advantage of these opportunities and grab a share of the savings for themselves.

There will also be the chance to view a live, national e-auction for IT hardware that will be taking place in the conference hall itself.

Who should be in on the action? Bargain Hunt is a must for members, chief executives, finance directors, operational staff, procurement staff and auditors.

Further details about the event and places, which will be limited, will be announced shortly.

The Centre for Construction Innovation Event –

Constructing the Sustainable Way – Promoting Best Practice in Lancashire

Burnley Football Club, 07.09.2006

Sustainable development and construction is at the heart of what Elevate, the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder for East Lancashire, is trying to achieve in building sustainable communities. Elevate is delighted to present “Constructing the Sustainable Way”, a one day conference promoting best practice in sustainable construction in East Lancashire and beyond.  Further information.

If you would like more information on CCI events please visit their website at www.ccinw.com

Construction Workshop – “Collaboration in Construction”

18.09.2006, Henry Ford College, Loughborough

This conference, organised by the East Midlands Centre of Excellence, will consider the findings of the recently published report; ‘Transforming Local Government Construction Procurement – The Power of Framework Agreements’, and share the lessons learnt from around the UK.  The day will be about sharing knowledge, considering the issues around implementation and the support required by Local Authorities in adopting collaboration in construction.

View the flyer and agenda.

Learning centred leadership

Please find attached details of events looking at learning centred leadership run by The Centre for Educational Leadership (CEL) in partnership with John West-Burnham, Honorary Senior Research fellow.

The events will take place on Wednesday 4 October 2006 at CEL Ambleside and Thursday 16 November 2006 at CEL Liverpool.

This event will provide the opportunity to review the implications of learning centeredness for schools.  This includes exploring the implications of learning-based approaches for the role of the student, the teacher and for school organisation and reviewing the implications for school leadership.

As such it will be of particular interest to:  Headteachers, Deputy heads and senior leaders in other educational settings, Governors, Advisers, and Educational consultants.

You will leave the event with an understanding of the background of the learning centred approach and the components of a learning strategy.

The event will be held at CEL centres in Ambleside and Liverpool. To register: visit http://www.cel.manchester.ac.uk/ or call Joanna Berry, CEL Conference Manager on 0161 275 3462.

Forthcoming Events Calendar