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Related Links News Updates |
News Update Week Ending 17 November 2006
Spikes Cavell - 'How To' Guide Spikes Cavell has kindly produced for the North West a How To guide that will help collaborations identify common spend areas and suppliers. An overview has already been given in the Cheshire and Gtr Manchester sub regions with a Lancashire session planned for early December. If anybody requires any further details then please contact the NWCE. Download the Spikes Cavell ‘How To’ Guide
Purchase Spend Analysis
It has come to the attention of the NWCE that Exor Management Services are contacting large numbers of local authorities across England in a marketing campaign to entice more councils to use their Expenditure Analysis services. The NWCE would like to reassure councils in the NW that the NWCE are not recommending Exor as a preferred option for Expenditure Analysis.
The NWCE will continue to encourage local authorities to undertake Purchase Spend Analysis (as per our original procurement programme) as this provides extremely valuable information with which to make informed and improved procurement decisions, and will continue to work with the sub-regions to identify collaborative procurement opportunities.
Should you have any queries, please contact either Olly Baker or Neil Hind.
Framework Group Update
As you may be aware an approach focusing on procurement in the sub-regions has developed over recent months. It has therefore been decided to postpone the planned frameworks meeting for the 21st November. This will allow for the sub regions to define their agendas and for the NWCE to formulate a comprehensive procurement plan for 2007.
The frameworks group has been influential in pushing forward collaborative procurement during 2006 and it is expected that work will continue in some form throughout 2007. In 2006 the group has:
A number of further categories have been identified for possible regional collaboration and a series of specific workshops will be arranged over the next few months. These include:
Details will be available via the NWCE web site.
The date and agenda for the next frameworks meeting will be confirmed after the procurement planning for 2007 has been agreed. Please contact the NWCE if you require any further information.
Chief Executives’ Task Force calls for Innovation
The Chief Executives’ Task Force has called on local authorities to increase and accelerate their approach to delivering shared services.
In its newly published annual report, the task force concludes that the pace of transformation must quicken and its reach widen to meet future fiscal targets and the expectations of citizens.
The Chief Executives’ Task Force annual report for 2005/06, ‘Local government: a more efficient public service’ calls for greater collaboration across authorities, an acceleration of shared services, smarter procurement and business process re-engineering to ensure local government remains on track in its drive towards greater efficiency.
It also provides an analysis of local government’s track record on efficiency and a summary of the performance of the RCEs and sets out the challenges facing local government and the RCEs as the efficiency and improvement agenda is about to intensify.
Read the newly published annual report.
Public Sector Efficiency – did the Gershon Review make a difference and what comes next? By Sir Peter Gershon
Ex-head of the Office of Government Commerce, Sir Peter Gershon made this speech
at the IDeA's Efficiency Matters Conference reviewing the current state of play
in the drive to greater public sector efficiency.
Sharing the Load
Sharing services has been highlighted as the way in which local authorities can meet the challenges set by the Efficiency Review, the Local Government White Paper and the forthcoming CSR07.
Government signs new software deal with Agresso
OGCbuying.solutions, trading arm of the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with major business software provider, Agresso. This new agreement will offer all public sector organisations preferential pricing arrangements on Agresso Business World software and services.
eProcurement in Action – OGC Guide for the Public Sector
This report provides information on how central government, local government and strategic private sector partners are introducing and developing eCommerce systems for public sector purchasing. It includes supporting information on standards, security and EU directives, as well as case studies on successful implementations.
Analysis of the Local Government Market - now available
The report – "Developing the local government services market to support the long term strategy for local government" – published by the DCLG presents key findings from an analysis of the local government market. It considers key challenges and opportunities faced by markets in local government services and identifies issues influencing the effectiveness of competition across the sector. It discusses these challenges and issues in relation to a long-term strategy for local government. Read the executive summary
EVENTS
NWCE Standards Workstream – Next Meeting
The next meeting of the NWCE Standards workstream has been arranged for 20.11.2006, at Ashton Town Hall. All members of this group who have not yet confirmed their attendance should do so immediately by contacting Beverley Brooks at the NWCE.
PS conference - Manchester – 23.11.2006 Manchester United Football Club conference centre
The next in the 2006 series of regional Government Procurement Service (GPS) conferences takes place on 23 November at Manchester United Football Club's conference centre.
The agenda can be viewed by clicking on this link - GPS conference agenda - 23 November 2006, Manchester
For further information please click here.
Improving the Local Provision of Culture and Sport – Workshop 27.11.2006 – 9am to 1pm
An important workshop at the end of November is set to show leisure and culture heads how to become winners!
Centre for Local Governance Launch - 29.11.2006, Manchester University
The Centre for Local Governance will be launched at a reception following the NWIN Strategic Board at 4:15pm at the Centre's offices as the University of Manchester.
The launch marks the start of a unique multi-million pound partnership between the Northwest Local authorities, Fire and Rescue Service and The University of Manchester.
Look out for the invitations to the launch being sent out soon.
Practical Process & Efficiency using ABC Workshop 28.11.06
Following
the success of the last NWeGG, ABC workshop which took place in July, there has
been a huge demand to run another workshop with Roger Cooper from
Valueadding.com .
High Cost Placements Project (Health and Social Care Programme Board) ‘Think Tank’ Meeting – 29.11.2006, Wigan Investment Centre
The second feedback meeting following the data gathering exercise for high cost adult placements is taking place on 29th November at Wigan Investment Centre, from 10am to 12 noon. Invites have been distributed to the contact list we have, however if you would like further information about this project, or the meeting, please contact Beverley Brooks at the NWCE.
Beacon Open Day – ‘Valuing People’ - Rotherham MBC 29.11.2006, Rotherham Town Hall
Rotherham MBC is proud of enabling people with Learning Disabilities to have the things that really matter to them, including: · Having a real voice in planning their future · Making their own decisions · Being part of the community · Having a home, a job and a social life Attend Rotherham’s Open Day and find out how they are offering a Learning Disability Service that is service user focused. Rotherham’s service users will help them to show the successes of the Learning Disability Service. You’ll be able to experience and enjoy learning about some of the projects Rotherham helps to support, including ‘SpeakUp Self Advocacy’.
For further information and/or to attend this exciting event, download the invitation; agenda and booking form.
White Paper discussion – 29.11.2006, Centre for Local Governance
NWIN and the Centre for Local Governance are pleased to announce that they are hosting a discussion on the Local Government White paper published on Thursday 26th October. Date: Wednesday 29th November 2006 Time: 1:00pm - 2:30pm Venue: Centre for Local Governance Invitations to this exciting event led by Professor Gerry Stoker will be sent out soon. For more information please contact Jez Lloyd.
Buy Recycled in Waste Facility Construction 06.12.2006
Envirolink Northwest http://www.envirolinknorthwest.co.uk/ (a not for profit company set up by the NWDA to promote, strengthen and support the environmental technologies and services sector in England's Northwest), is staging a free event called ‘Buy Recycled in Waste Facility Construction’. The event is taking place at the Warrington Wolves rugby ground, the Halliwell Jones Stadium, on the morning of the 6th December 2006.
The event will focus on the various reasons why recycled products and materials should be specified and used in the construction of the numerous waste management facilities that Disposal Authorities, Unitaries and Collection Authorities will need to build to meet the demands of increased waste and recyclables collection and materials sorting.
As well as three keynote speakers (Barbara Morton - Project Manager for the Sustainable Procurement Task Force, Carl Beer - Director of Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority and a member of WRAP's Procurement and Construction team), there will be approximately 15 exhibitor companies who are either manufacturing recycled content products for or using them in related construction projects.
Contact Linda McGeechan. 01925 813 200 or e-mail events@envirolinknorthwest.co.uk
Procurement Planning Workshop for 2007 10am to 3pm Friday 08.12.2006
The NWCE Procurement Programme is starting to plan for 2007. As such, we would like to run an informal workshop with stakeholders within the region. A full agenda is being devised but the purpose of the day will to look at how we can build on work from this year to further help authorities meet their procurement and saving targets. We will also look at possible events and working groups required for next year, keeping in mind a more sub-regional approach. Room is limited so please contact neil.hind@hind.co.uk for more details.
NWCE Health and Social Care Programme Board – Next Meeting – 08.12.2006
The next meeting of the NWCE Health and Social Care Programme Board will take place on 8th December 2006 at 10.00am at Wigan Investment Centre. For further information about this programme board please contact Beverley Brooks at NWCE.
Postal Procurement Workshop 1pm to 4.30pm Monday 11.12.2006 (venue tbc)
The NWCE is looking to help local authorities reduce postal procurement costs. This first workshop will look at deals available and how procurement may be undertaken on a regional basis. The change management activities will also be considered. We will also be discussing the new ‘On the Money’ guide to getting a better deal in postal services document, produced jointly by the Regional Centres of Excellence. Please contact Beverley Brooks at NWCE to reserve a space.
Travel Procurement Workshop 10am to 1pm Tuesday 16.01.2006 (venue tbc)
The NWCE is looking to help local authorities reduce travel and hotel procurement costs. This first workshop will look at deals available and how procurement may be undertaken on a regional basis. The change management activities will also be considered. Please contact bev.brooks@tameside.gov.uk to reserve a space.
For further information about NWCE events please see the EVENTS SECTION of the NWCE website. |
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