North West Centre of Excellence

News Update

Week Ending 21st July 2006

4Ps Gateway Review Training – Unmissable Opportunity

A Gateway Review can cast a critical, independent eye over procurement projects at crucial stages in their development. The reviews are conducted by a team of professionals who aren’t part of the project team and who can look objectively over the aims of projects and the structure of the deal.

4ps Gateway reviews are helping local authority project owners to deliver successful projects.  The North West Centre of Excellence is now offering Gateway Review training, which would normally cost £500, FREE OF CHARGE.

Further information, including an overview of the Gateway Review process and profile of a gateway reviewer can be found here.

Dates and venues for this training are as follows:

If you would like to attend please complete a booking form by clicking here  - and return by email to Beverley Brooks at the NWCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Oracle User Group

The NWCE is pleased to be supporting an Oracle User Group that aims to bring together some of the skills and experiences around implementing and using Oracle Financials. The group, led by Lancashire County Council, is planning to meet on 1^st August, 9.45am to 1pm at Lancashire County Hall, Preston. If you would like to attend please email Andrew Dobson.  It is hoped by sharing in this way expensive consultancy can be avoided.

eInvoicing Event

Over 30 delegates attended the well received eInvoicing workshop this week. View copies of the presentations.  The HMRC have also asked for assistance with research into blended VAT rates for P Card users. A short survey for completion is also available at the same location.

The event indicated that a number of authorities are very interested in implementing or

researching the possibility of eInvoicing within their organisations and the

NWCE is looking to co-ordinate this work under its eProcurement

Programme. If you would like to participate in the

proposed working group then please

email Neil Hind. 

Cheque Mates!

CMS Ltd would like to invite members of the North West Centre of Excellence to participate in the trial of www.Invapay.com which is an exciting ePayment Exchange for paying ad hoc suppliers and contractors. A City Council recently described the solution as an Electronic Cheque Book that would completely eliminate the need for emergency cheque books and the control and reconciliation problems associated with them. Full details can be found at www.invapay.com and interested parties can get more details from Dave Robinson at CMS on 0161 924 2306.

OGC.BuyingSolutions Contracts

A number of OGC.BS frameworks agreements are now available in a more user friendly searchable database. More contracts are due to be added but a number are already available at the link below. The NWCE are also working with OGC.BS in looking at a number of regional deals building on their existing frameworks. If you require more details please contact the centre.  http://www.contractsregister.com/OGCBS/Log_In/

Business process architecture

The business process architecture initiative has produced a comprehensive set of processes to help council executives gain a better understanding of their own organisations. This tool should help link strategic plans to priority service and process improvements, as well as assist in identifying opportunities for greater collaborative working and shared service provision. For further information click here.

Leading the transformation of children's and adults' services

IDeA and partners are hosting free regional seminars to reflect on progress in transforming children's and adults' services, with a view to the challenges of the year ahead.

The programme will provide an opportunity to hear about and discuss the wider context of local government reform, the future of regulation and inspection, and expert assessments of the national scene.
Download additional information and book online.


Blue Badge Efficiency Initiative

In March 2005, there were approximately 2.1 million Blue Badges in issue across England.  Councils respond to this demand in many different ways and some operate processes that can be improved upon to achieve cost effective, customer focused and timely outcomes.  By making simple changes to existing processes Councils can eliminate labour-intensive activities and deliver real efficiencies.

CSED (Care Services Efficiency Delivery Programme) have produced a diagnostic tool, efficiency toolkit and Blue Badge Initiative document, all designed to highlight the benefits of a more efficient and cost effective approach to the administration of Blue Badges.
Download the toolkit and publication.

Department for Communities and Local Government – Next Steps

 
Permanent Secretary Peter Housden and the DCLG Board have published a booklet setting out the decisions they have taken on the future shape and structure of DCLG. In the booklet, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Ruth Kelly sets out her vision of the task for DCLG and her priorities.  

Download the booklet.

DCLG Structures for Collaboration and Shared Services Publication

This document provides an insight into the structures for partnerships and the legal, administrative and financial issues that need to be taken into account when considering collaboration, joint working or the sharing of services.

Download the document

Smart Productivity – Securing Sustainable Development Publication

This publication reveals how investment in sustainable development initiatives can contribute to long-term economic growth, environmental sustainability and social inclusion.  
Download the document.


 

Report of the Third Sector Commissioning Task Force

This report sets out the conclusions of the Third Sector Commissioning Task Force, which was set up to promote a sound commercial relationship between commissioners of health and social care services and the third sector as providers, and help remove barriers to entry for all potential providers of health and social care.  
Download the report.

Raising the Profile of the Greater Manchester Voluntary Sector

The Treasury is currently undertaking a review of the third sector, with an event being held in Greater Manchester later this month. Within the review there is a particular interest in the sector's role in service delivery.  Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation are currently collecting examples of third sector organisations delivering Public Sector Activities.  For further information click here.

 

Research Search

Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation is collecting information on research papers and reports to form a repository of relevant voluntary sector research in Greater Manchester. Click here for further details.

New Tool to Improve Funding Relationships

The National Audit Office has developed a web-based tool to improve financial relationships between government funders and third sector organisations.  Please click here for more information.

Share your Good News with the Region!

We are always keen to hear good news stories and lessons learned from around the region for inclusion in our news updates – particularly relating to improving efficiency or partnerships/collaborations.  If you have any news you would like to see included in a forthcoming issue of our update, please contact Beverley Brooks at NWCE.