News Update

Week Ending 16th June 2006

Technical Problems at the NWCE

The Centre has suffered technical difficulties following a power cut on Monday 12^th June.  Some emails and calendar entries may have been lost.  Further maintenance work is taking place on Friday 16^th June which means the email service will be unavailable.  If you have emailed the Centre and have not received a response could you please resend or phone 0161 342 4080.  Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this has caused.

NOMAD – Newsletter

Nomad is engaged with many of the Regional Centres of Excellence working on specific collaboration projects in local government.

It is NOMAD’s intention to provide regular updates to covering mobile and flexible working initiatives, in the form of a pdf newsletter.  To view the newsletter please click here.  This newsletter can also be found on our website.

Local Government Well Placed to Deliver a Further £1.3bn of Efficiency Gains

Local authorities in England are on course to deliver a further £1.3 billion worth of efficiency gains in 2006/07, according to figures published by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

These expected savings - identified by local authorities in their annual forward look efficiency statements - compare with £760 million in 2004/05 and £1.1bn in 2005/06

The figures highlight that, if the reported efficiency gains are delivered, local government is well on its way to meeting the £3bn Gershon target a year ahead of schedule.

To read more please click here.

Free Stationery Procurement Consultancy

The NWCE is working with OGC on new ways to procure stationery. The work looks at ways to reduce costs from the supply chain and ensuring maverick spend is eliminated. The work undertaken to date has proven a minimum saving of 20%, sometimes with little effort. A number of North West authorities are currently investigating the business case for changing their procurement methods in this area with the OGC consultants.

If you would like to be a pilot for this project please email Neil Hind.

Waste Information Network (WIN)

A groundbreaking website designed to support local government in its drive for more efficient waste management practices will be launched at the Chartered Institute of Waste Management Conference on 10^th June 2006.

Developed by the South East Regional Centre of Excellence, the Waste Information Network (WIN) site is a new ‘one stop shop’ for public sector waste professionals to access easily a huge range of information on waste related topics.  It is packed with information on procurement, partnering, efficiency and service improvements.  It also provides a document library that brings together best practice, innovation, consultancy reports, legislation and toolkits.

The WIN website marks the first time that such a comprehensive set of information has been brought together under one site.  It aims to provide an authoritative and easily accessible source of knowledge to help councils deliver efficiencies.

Visit the website at www.win.gov.uk or email win@sece.gov.uk for more information.

New Government Review of UK Waste Market

A major new government report into how the UK disposes of millions of tonnes of domestic waste was released on 18^th May; it is intended to be the catalyst for better management.

The report identifies the need for:

·   A coordinated picture of local authority waste procurement plans;

·   A better flow of projects through the procurement pipeline;

·   The adoption of appropriate funding and procurement models;

·   The need for ‘hands-on’ support for local authority procurements within the waste management marketplace.

For further information please click here.

Performance Management Information – Waste Management

The Government places great importance on achieving more sustainable waste management, and local authorities have a vital role in this.  This DEFRA web page includes important information and links to material on schemes and levers to help local authorities to improve their performance; waste best value performance indicators; statutory recycling targets; and comprehensive performance assessment.  Please click here for further information.

More Competition, Less Waste:

Public Procurement and Competition in the Municipal Waste Management Sector

This study, conducted jointly with the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), focuses on how the use of landfill to dispose of waste in England could be reduced through the development of more competitive markets.  Click here for further information.

Sustainable Procurement National Action Plan launched

On 12 June the independent, business-led Sustainable Procurement Task Force launched its National Action Plan - ‘Procuring the Future'. The National Action Plan highlights the need for government to lead by example, communicate clear priorities, capture opportunities, raise standards and reduce barriers in an effort to drive sustainable procurement forward.

The National Action Plan was formally presented to the Rt Hon David Miliband, Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Rt Hon Stephen Timms, Chief Secretary to the Treasury for more information click here.

Annual Efficiency Statements: 2006-07 Forward look

All local authorities in England are required to submit annual efficiency statements to DCLG, as part of the local government efficiency agenda. The documents that are published are the 2006-07 forward look statements submitted by local authorities and a spreadsheet that sets out the efficiency gains expected in each sector by each local authority. For more information click here.

eProcurement Reference Day

Presentations are now available from the well attended eProcurement Day on 6^th June. Of special interest was an overview of new EU regulations and an update on the eInvoicing project at Salford City Council. All presentations can be found at:

https://vwg.agma.gov.uk/sites/NWCEeP/Lists/Announcements/DispForm.aspx?ID=5

eInvoicing Event  - 16^th June – Delayed

Due to increased interested in this event a decision has been made to delay until mid July to allow for additional attendees. A new date will be published very quickly!

If you would like to be added to the attendee list please email Rebecca McDevitt.

Process Costing Workshop – 6^th July – Wigan Investment Centre

The eProcurement programme are offering a limited number of authorities a free session on understanding the cost of procurement. The one-day course - ‘Calculating Process Costs’ – will enable staff to assign costs to process elements and model effects of process changes, with particular emphasis on Purchase-to-Payment process. We will give time for the delegates to practice the techniques, and understand the implications, through exercise and participation. This workshop should therefore form a sound basis for participants in understanding how to make an assessment of their procure-to-purchase costs in their own authorities, both in terms of costs and also potential for improvement.

It would be useful if a procurement and finance person attended from each participating authority. If you would like to be added to the attendee list please email Rebecca McDevitt. A charge of £100 per person may be applied for non attendance as this is a very limited session. The draft agenda can be viewed here.  

Modernising Services (Corporate & Transactional Services) Reference Meeting  

Thank you to those who attended the above meeting on Wednesday 15^th June.  Presentations from the day will shortly be available on the NWCE website.

The next Modernising Services Reference Meeting will take place on 17^th October 2006 at 12 noon at Manchester Town Hall Banqueting Suite.  For further information please contact Bev Brooks at NWCE.