North West Centre of Excellence

News Update

Week Ending 10th June 2005

Annual Efficiency Statements

1.      All 46 local authorities produced their AES by mid-April and are now in the process of producing 2004/5 backward look statements.  ODPM has published guidance and various toolkits to assist with the completion of the AES Backward Look to be submitted by 16^th June 2005.  These can be accessed using the link on our home page or through the Regional Centres of Excellence website (www.rcoe.gov.uk).

NWCE re-launched website – www.nwce.org.uk

2.      The Centre has re-launched its website, and as such has a new website address – www.nwce.org.uk.  The website has a new ‘members area’, where you can register to gain access to areas of the website which will give you more detailed information on the workstreams, a forum area and much more as this facility develops.  Please register to take full advantage of the new facilities offered.  Feedback, suggestions and criticism regarding any aspect of our website are welcomed, so that the website can be tailored to meet your needs.

Workstream Membership

3.      As the focus of the NWCE has now extended from procurement to efficiency and sustainability, we need to ensure workstream membership reflects this. 

         This does not mean that procurement personnel shouldn’t longer be involved with the workstreams, but we need to include subject specialists, like social care people for the Health and Social Care Workstream.  Involvement in the workstreams means firm commitment and engagement with the work of the workstreams and attendance of meetings.  To update your Council’s workstream membership please contact the Centre nwcope@tameside.gov.uk.

New Guidance from the OGC

4.      The OGC has recently launched 'eProcurement Guidance - A guide to eProcurement in the Public Sector' also referred to as 'Blue Frog 2' as it follows on from an initial guide on the subject published in Autumn 2002, which had a blue frog on the cover. Please click on link for full details and the complete document www.ogc.gov.uk/index.asp?docid=2314

Stakeholder Event

5.      The NWCE hosted their first annual stakeholder event on the 8^th June 2005 at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton.  This event went really well and was very well attended.  The presentations and some photographs from the day can be found under our ‘events’ page.  Look out for next week’s news update, which will be entirely dedicated to the event.

New Efficiency Delivery Manager at the Centre

6.      Olly Baker joined the team at the Centre on 16^th May.  Olly has been seconded from the ODPM where he worked in the Local Government Modernisation and Efficiency Division of ODPM, dealing with legislative changes on trading, procurement and local authority companies.  He will be responsible for research into best value and efficiency at all NW Councils, recording the data and sharing the information to gain efficiencies with other Councils.