North West Centre of Excellence

News Update

Week Ending 14th April 2006

Model Terms and Conditions

OGC have produced a set of model Terms and Conditions.  This template can be used by all Local Authorities.  The NWCE Standards Workstream was involved in the review of these Terms and Conditions.

To view please click here.  These will also be added to the Library section of our website.

Excelsoir - Service Oriented Framework

Eden District Council is one of the smallest authorities in the country in terms of staff numbers and budget, but one of the largest in terms of area. In July 2005 they embarked on a major project to deliver a customer contact centre in Penrith.  The main drivers for the contact centre where to improve the quality and accessibility of services in order to respond to customer needs more effectively, to improve efficiency and to satisfy government targets.

One of the biggest challenges was to build a CRM component that not only satisfied these requirements, but was also user friendly, customisable and did not have any prohibitive development or support costs. With CGI as their technical partner, and using Excelsior as the framework, this was achieved and in January 2006, Contact Eden went live and is already receiving very positive feed back from both customers and staff.

The success of the CRM focuses on the ability of Eden to 100% customise the look and feel of the system. New services can be deployed at their own pace and amendments or enhancements to existing processes can be deployed quickly and effectively. This is currently achieved using some standard XML coding, but the Connected Cumbria Partnership have already commissioned CGI to develop a ‘Super User’ GUI (graphical user interface) that will allow an even simpler method of building processes using drag and drop in a familiar Windows environment. Also, because the system data is SQL based and so easily links to standard office programmes, Eden are able to produce their own standard and ad-hoc reports and statistics on demand.

Possibly the most beneficial feature of this project is the fact that the CRM component has zero licence costs and any enhancements developed within one authority are made freely available to others within the government family.

Phase 2 planning is already underway at Eden and will include the deployment of new services, development work with CGI to produce an e-mail function to auto-notify contractors of service requests, and the integration of their LLPG.

Eden are very happy to discuss their project in more detail, and if you would like more information please contact Kate Fletcher, Business Projects Manager on 01768 212139 or by e-mail to kate.fletcher@eden.gov.uk. For more detail on the Excelsior framework, please visit www.excelsior4gov.info

Local e-Government EXPO

We told you we would provide details of products made available as a result of the above.  Presentations and seminars from the Expo will be made available on their website in the near future – you can visit their site by clicking here.

Look out for further information in next week’s NWCE update.

Collaborations with NHS Procurement Hub and OGCbuying.solutions

Colin Cram met with Peter Akid, Chief Executive and Kevin Pritchard of the NHS Manchester Procurement Hub.  Opportunities for collaboration were identified.  These include a list of suitable Framework Agreements to be provided by NHS Hub.  NHS Hub wishes to join in with our Procurement Cards and e-auctions initiatives with OGCbuying.solutions.  This should result in larger procurement card rebates for North West councils and a larger programme of e-auctions.

Colin Cram also met with Stephen Heard, Customer Relations Director of OGCbuying.solutions.  He agreed to provide within the next four weeks a list of 50 “quality” Framework Agreements which can be used by North West local authorities.  He also agreed to explore the production of a catalogue of agreements with North West Suppliers.  

NWCE Welcomes new team member

Craig Rushton recently joined the NWCE team on an interim basis to undertake Procurement Spend Analysis and development of the procurement landscape.  A warm welcome to the team Craig!

Procurement Cards

Since agreeing that Barclaycard is the regional Procurement Card provider, 15 local authorities have expressed strong interest in taking it up.  A Regional Procurement Card User Group and Forum event is being held on 16^th M ay at Barclays North West Business Banking, Manchester.  For further information please contact the NWCE.

The Efficiency Challenge – The Way Forward (Conference) - 17^th May 2006, Warrington

In partnership with colleagues from the Audit Commission, ODPM and Improvement Network we are inviting you to a half day seminar to explore the changes that councils can make to improve efficiencies. We also want to explore how councils can work together in partnership to contribute to this.

Speakers at the seminar will include representatives from:

·         Audit Commission;

·         Office of the Deputy Prime Minister;

·         The Regional Centre of Excellence and

·         Improvement Network

The seminar is free and we are holding it in your Government Office region, so that neighbouring councils can discuss the key issues together, and plan future actions.

We are keen for key decision makers from all councils to attend but due to space constraints we will have to limit this to two per council. If you are unable to attend we hope that you will send a senior representative to contribute to this challenging agenda.

The programme will run from 10am to 2.15pm with a networking lunch included.  If you would like to take up his valuable opportunity to meet and network with other Chief Executives and senior policy makers from your region and share experience and best practice please complete the booking form and return to Marketing Communications, 1^st Floor Millbank Tower, Millbank, London, SW1P 4HQ or contact the Events team on 0207 166 2231 or fax the form to 0845 052 2615. 

To view the flyer, including the programme, please click here.

Demonstrating Efficiency - 28^th April 2006, De Vere White’s Hotel, Bolton

The North West Centre of Excellence are holding a joint event with APSE on 28th April at De Vere White's Hotel, Reebok Stadium, Bolton.  The title of the seminar is 'Demonstrating Efficiency and Improvement' and will include a session by Sue Reid from the ODPM on Measuring the Benefits - Cashable and Non-cashable savings, a session on the shared services agenda and best practice case studies and workshops on using performance measurement to improve and to generate efficiencies. 

To view the programme please click here or for further information please contact  Keisha Adair at APSE, tel: 0161 772 1810. 

LETsGO Workshop – 11^th May 2006, Wigan Investment Centre

The next LETsGO workshop will be on the 11th May at the Wigan Investment Centre from 10am.

The agenda offers an excellent range of topics building on previous workshops, introducing some private sector expertise and continuing our discussion with the ODPM on the productive time agenda.

Please click here to see the agenda and register or click here to see the agenda.

NWCE Framework Agreements Workstream – Next Meeting – 15^th June 2006, Kirby Suite

The next meeting of the NWCE Framework Agreements workstream has been arranged for 15^th May 2006 12 noon to 3.30pm  (lunch at 12 noon, meeting to commence at 12.30pm).  The venue is the Kirby Suite, the Osprey Room.

Please ensure diaries are noted accordingly and for further information contact Rebecca McDevitt at NWCE.