North West Centre of Excellence

News Update

Week Ending 12th August 2005

eAuctions - Funding

The OGC has some funding available for local authorities to apply for support in carrying out e-auctions. The criteria for funding and the application form are attached and need to be submitted to the NWCE by 2nd September. Please contact the Centre if you would like further information – nwce@tameside.org.uk

Price Benchmarking

Following requests, next week we are starting a pilot project to benchmark costs of a variety of goods procured by authorities in the North West. Around 60 widely purchased items have been identified, and a small spreadsheet is being sent to your authority to be populated. We need your co-operation to complete the spreadsheet and ensure that the results of this project are useful.

Once the data has been collected we can compare the costs paid for certain items between authorities across the NW and the rest of England, as well as making comparisons with the rest of the public sector and some private organisations. Areas where savings can be made can also be identified.

Should you require any further information, please contact Olly Baker at the Centre - olly.baker@tameside.gov.uk.

Local Economies and Standards Workstream Meetings – 4^th October 2005

As some of you will be aware, there has been something of a diary 'clash' in that the next meetings of the Local Economies and Standards workstreams coincide with each other - and the venues are quite far apart!

Following discussions, it has been agreed that both workstream meetings will take place on the same day, at the same venue in Lancaster (directions available on request).  The Local Economies meeting will take place from 10am to 12 noon, lunch from 12 noon to 1.15pm, followed by the Standards meeting 1.15pm to 3.15pm.

This will give members of both the workstreams the opportunity to attend the other workstream meeting, if they so wish, and vice versa.  These workstreams have a lot of 'crossover' and it would be beneficial for them to get together on this occasion to hear what is happening within the workstreams and share discussions and ideas.

If you have any queries regarding this please contact the centre – nwce@tameside.gov.uk

Commodities, Goods and Services

OGC have agreed to use the Centres of Excellence as their principal channel of communication for all work in the Commodities, Goods and Services workstream.

The most recent request to the OGC has come from the Project Manager for the postal services project.  The project concerns the post market in which local authorities spend over £170 million per annum, a little under a third of total government spend.

The letters market will be fully de-regulated by 1^st January 2006 and there is already some capability from new entrants. 

Opportunities for bulk mail savings could be as high as 33% and OGC activity is under way to develop frameworks for the wider public sector in line with the full market opening timetable.

Frameworks negotiated by the Cabinet Office have already been awarded to TNT and UK-Mail for bulk mail services.  These frameworks are available now to all local authorities. 

The Postal Services Project are seeking nominations from nine local authorities (one per region) to work with the project team over the course of the next few weeks to exchange information to help inform the specification under the ITT.  If you are interested in undertaking this work please contact the Centre as soon as possible.

A free postal efficiency audit is also being offered to three local authorities who would be interested in receiving one.  Essex County Council have already been nominated. If you would like your authority to be considered for nomination for this ‘freebie’ please contact us.

Finally, OGC are keen to increase local authority representation on two bodies: the Postal Services Forum and the Postal Services Project Board.  If you are interested, again please contact the Centre – nwce@tameside.gov.uk

NWCE Staffing

As you know, Beth Loudon is leaving the NWCE at the end of August, and I’m sure you will all join us in wishing her well in her new post.  We are also pleased to welcome two colleagues who will be working with the Centre on specific pieces of work.  Andrew Callendar, who is carrying out a focused piece of work in respect of waste and Garth Goddard, on secondment from Cheshire County Council, who will be leading the Centre’s national strand for transport.  In light of the developing programme of work, we are reviewing the staffing arrangements for the Centre in the medium to long-term and will take a decision in September regarding the staffing needs to achieve maximum delivery.  In the meantime if you have any queries regarding work you may be involved with the NWCE please contact the Centre’s support team on 0161 342 4080/4081 or by email on nwce@tameside.gov.uk

Workstream Membership

The NWCE are currently reviewing membership of workstreams, and as such Shelley and Bev will be in contact with workstream members, asking them to ensure that membership lists are completely up to date.  Your co-operation in this matter would be appreciated.

If you would like copies of workstream membership lists, or are interested in joining any of our workstreams please contact the Centre – nwce@tameside.gov.uk