News Update

Week Ending 7th October 2005

Job Opportunities

The NWCE are looking for Programme Directors and Programme Managers to lead and implement a range of initiatives within the region.  Salary is negotiable based on competency and experience.  Application forms and full job descriptions will be available on the Centre’s website from Tuesday.  For more information please contact Miranda Carruthers-Watt – miranda.carruthers-watt@tameside.gov.uk

Wheelie Bins - eAuction

BT, one of the eAuction Framework Service Providers, is working with a number of councils to develop and run a consolidated spend project for Wheelie Bins. To date, expressions of interest have been received from Warrington, Wigan and Liverpool councils however there appears to be scope to leverage this initiative further.  More details, and contact details for interested customers can be found by clicking here. The closing date for participation in this project is 31/10/05.

ODPM Publish Efficiency Mid Year Report Update Guidance

ODPM have published their guidance for completing the Mid Year Report.  The 2005/06 Mid Year Update is due to be submitted to ODPM by 17 November from all single tier and county councils, except those that have been rated "Excellent" under CPA.  ODPM are encouraging all other local authorities to provide a return too, but this is entirely voluntary.  Returns should be submitted through the esd toolkit www.esd-toolkit.org  The guidance can be found on the Regional Centres of Excellence website www.rcoe.gov.uk.

Pilot OpenStrategy Project in the North West

The NWCE is facilitating the above named pilot project in the North West.  The aim of this project is to test a new technique / approach (OpenStrategy) to strategic planning and support the development of good sustainable procurement practice in the NW and nationally.  Sustainable Procurement (SP) has been chosen as the subject for this pilot as it is currently an important issue in the sustainability debate, because of its significant contribution to sustainable consumption and production (SCP). It will also help to build on the work that is currently being delivered both nationally through the Sustainable Procurement Task Force at DEFRA and by a range of bodies and organisations in the North West.

We would welcome any volunteers who would like to join the steering group. If you would like a short DVD with a demonstration of the project, please contact Bev at NWCE (bev.brooks@tameside.gov.uk)

E-Market Suppliers Day – 30^th September 2005

On the 30^th September 2005 NWCE, in partnership with NWeGG, hosted an e-Market Suppliers Day.  The idea for this information sharing event came via the eProcurement workstream.  Four suppliers presented giving an informed view of products available and cost. The event was well attended by local authorities across the North West region.  Feedback suggests attendees found this event informative, and helpful in increasing their understanding of what is available to them.

Framework Agreements Workstream – Meeting 3^rd October 2005

The NWCE will shortly be sending through a request for all authorities to assess which agreements they currently use, and what they think of each one in terms of value and service.  Your co-operation with this request would be appreciated.

As the Contracts Register work is still ongoing, it was felt it would be beneficial for a simple register for authorities to be made available, to list the contracts that they are going to go out to tender for in the near future, detailing what the contract is for, and what the start date is.  This would allow authorities to see what else is happening in the region and if there is a chance of joining in with a contract. This will be set up on the NWCE website in the near future. 

The Refuse Vehicle Collaborative Procurement Project is progressing well. A virtual workgroup has been set up on the AGMA web portal. Any information that comes out of this project will be made available on the NWCE website.

Local Economies Workstream Meeting – 4^th October 2005

ELeP are hosting an event looking at how local authorities can work with social enterprises – information on how social enterprises can supply authorities, what social enterprises can provide, and how LAs can make it easier for social enterprises.  Look out for further information regarding this event in forthcoming NWCE news updates, and on our website.

A Local Economies event is being organised, and a small working group has been set up to move this forward.  This event will be held in New Year.  Look out for further information regarding this event in forthcoming NWCE news updates, and on our website.

The Local Economies workstream has produced several excellent pieces of work, such as benchmarking studies and guidance documentation.  These documents will be available via the NWCE website library, in the near future.

Standards Workstream Meeting – 4^th October 2005

The Standards workstream will establish a procedure for publicising documents produced by workstream on the website - i.e. the amount of time required by the standards to raise any queries before they are publicised, procedure for updating documents, a review date etc.

Two representatives of the OGC attended this meeting, and gave an excellent presentation regarding current activity around procurement standards.  The Standards Workstream will be working closely with the OGC in respect of model terms and conditions.

A model template for Standing Orders is almost complete.  This will feed into work that OGC are looking at.  Once agreed, this document will be available through the NWCE website.

‘Library’ Section – NWCE Website

As a result of suggestions at workstream meetings, the NWCE website now has a ‘library’ area, where all documentation produced by workstreams, such as guidance documents, benchmarking studies etc, can be found.  The library will also contain any other appropriate documentation created by, or of interest to members of the NWCE.  This facility will be developed over the next couple of weeks, and will be updated on an ongoing basis.