News Update

Week Ending 18th November 2005

E-Auctions – Update

Thanks very much to everybody who responded with confirmation and details of their e-auction programme.  We have been advised by the RCE’s and OGC that they will look to confirm the amounts of support that they can offer to a regional e-auction programme with auctions to be completed by 31^st March 2006. 

We are compiling the detailed list for submission next week and are including in that list any

e-auctions that have taken place since 1^st September which are a collaboration between authorities and result in a framework agreement that can be used within the region. 

The following authorities have given us information that is being developed into the regional programme and full details will be circulated next week:

°            Manchester

°            Warrington

°            Congleton and Macclesfield

°            East Lancs E Partnership

°            Cumbria

°            Tameside

°            Knowsley

Voca

Voca, formerly known as BACS Limited, will work with the nine Regional Centres of Excellence to identify transactional payment service efficiency improvements for Local Authorities.

Voca is uniquely positioned to work with the RCEs to improve payment performance.  In 37 years of operation Voca has handled over 50 billion transactions, worth over £3 trillion a year.  These include over 90 percent of salaries in the UK and more than 600 million Government payments, including state benefits.

Click here for further information.

REMINDER

Please could we remind you that the NWCE team will be unavailable on Monday 21^st November due to a team awayday.  Any messages, telephone or email, will be dealt with on our return on Tuesday 22^nd November.

EVENTS

Transforming Local Services 2005-11-18

23^rd November 2005 at the Bridgewater Hall. Manchester.

This event will be a showcase of the best products from England’s Local eGov Programme and complements the 3rd EU eGovernment Ministerial Conference.  It  aims to highlight the lessons learnt from England's experience and share the products and materials that have been developed by English councils as part of the national e-Government programme.

For further information please click here.

Securing Better Performance and Productivity

A one-day workshop aimed at finding ways to support local initiatives.  28^th November 2005 - Old Sessions House – London EC1.  For further information click here.

Supporting People Efficiency Workshops

Workshops are being held on 28th November 2005 at Lancaster University Conference Centre, and 30th November 2005 at Huyton Civic Suite.  These workshops have been organised by the ODPM, in conjunction with the NWCE and the 4Ps. For further information please contact Bev at NWCE.

Procurement in Action - Delivering Effective Partnerships

Tuesday 24 January 2006 at Victoria Park Plaza, London

Within procurement it is no longer good enough just to demonstrate that we can deliver economies of scale and cost savings through good purchasing practice.
With the help of the Gershon Review the huge potential that procurement has in delivering major savings has transformed the thinking of procurement stakeholders and personnel.

To register or for further information visit www.govnet.co.uk/procurement06, email: marketing@govnet.co.uk or call Sabrina Hartley on 0800 542 9585.

New EU Procurement Directives Training Seminars

Just a reminder that the closing date to book a place on this event is Tuesday 22^nd November.  For further information and to book a place, please click here.