News Update

Week Ending 6th January 2006

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Framework Agreement for Vehicle Recovery

A new Framework Agreement is available for all local authorities to utilise on Vehicle Recovery.  To view details, please click here.

This Framework Agreement has been included in the library section of our website – this is continually updated.

Voca

Your local authority will shortly be receiving a report on their transactional efficiency prepared by Voca on behalf of the Centres of Excellence.

There are wide variations in the cost of collection and administration of council tax, rates, benefits and other services across local authorities.  In the interest of achieving best practice nationwide the ODPM has funded Voca to research where savings can be made.

Please click here to view a pdf document positioning the Voca programme for onward distribution to the Local Authorities.

ODPM Publish 2005-2006 Mid Year Updates

Link to Efficiency 2005-2006 Mid Year Updates 

As part of the local government efficiency agenda, all upper tier local authorities in England (i.e. County, Unitary, Metropolitan and London Borough councils) except those rated "Excellent" under CPA are required to submit a Mid-Year Update statement. Excellent and any district council may choose to submit a Mid-Year Update voluntarily.

The Mid Year Updates were published on the ODPM website on the 29th December 2005 - Mid Year Update Press Notice (pdf, 24kb)

Download Spreadsheet of 2005_2006 Mid Year Update Data (xls, 147kb)

Can You Help???

St Helens Council are currently investigating options for the outsourcing of the community alarm service and would like to hear from any authorities who have an existing contract that may be used by other Local Authorities or who use any existing Framework Agreements, for example the Northern Housing Consortia agreement. If you can help, please contact Jane Smith, Head of Corporate Procurement on 01744 456094 or by e-mail to janesmith@sthelens.gov.uk

Tony Kitchen – Programme Director, NWCE

NWCE are pleased to welcome Tony Kitchen to their team as Programme Director.

Tony joins us on secondment from Rochdale Council, having worked in local government for approximately 30 years.  He has wide-ranging experience, having worked in social care for the past 10/12 years, which has incorporated a significant amount of change management – changing the service provision for Rochdale Council.  He is a qualified accountant and was instrumental in driving forward Rochdale’s approach to Best Value from May 1999 to April 2000.

Tony will be looking with work closely with our Health and Social Care workstream, and we hope you will all join us in welcoming him to our team.

Problems with NWCE Email Server

Unfortunately we encountered problems with our email server over the Christmas period.  Any emails sent to staff at NWCE from 23/12/2005 to 05/01/2006 may not have reached us - if you sent an email please do not assume we received it and telephone us to check. 

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience.

EVENTS

More Bang for your Buck!

Maximising Efficiency through Procurement - Members' Conference
20^th January 2006, Midland Hotel Manchester

NWCE are hosting a half-day members’ conference on 20^th January 2006 from 12.30 onwards at the Midland Hotel Manchester.  The conference is to explore the challenges facing North West Councils.

To view the programme for the day please click here.

Please encourage your members to attend this event, places are limited and filling up quickly!

If you would like further information please contact Bev at NWCE.