News Update

Week Ending 23rd June 2006

OGC Fleet Bulletin

The latest OGC fleet bulletin can be viewed by clicking here. The NWCE are currently in discussions with this OGC project to see how the needs of the NW can be addressed.

Lease Vehicle Framework

The NWCE is looking at a regional framework for lease vehicles, possibly with OGC or OGC.buying solutions who are looking at national agreements. In the short term the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation (YPO) framework is available for NW authorities and can be viewed by clicking here.

Procurement Cards

A number of authorities are still evaluating the need for procurement cards and additional support has been made available. The annual GPC report has just been published and can be downloaded from http://www.purchasingcard.info/downloads/2005_GPC_Annual_Report.pdf. This report contains useful information when building a business case. The official UK Government Procurement Card Benchmarking Site has also been updated that helps you identify how much your organisation can save in terms of time and the environment. This can be found at http://www.purchasingcard.info/.

National eService Delivery Standards

'The National eService Delivery Standards (NeSDS) Programme has released the 10 eStandards now approved by DCLG.  NeSDS have set up a self assessment online tool hosted by esd toolkit which is available at www.nesds.gov.uk  and will allow councils to both self assess against each of the 10 eStandards and compare against other councils.
 
The standards developed by NeSDS and PARSOL currently cover the following services: Customer Services, Housing, Adult Services, Highways, ICT Services, Human Resources (HR), Trees, Property Services, Building Control and Environmental Health

Please complete the online self assessment for your council as soon as possible. This provides benefits for you and a wider base for comparison with other councils.

New Measures to Strengthen Third Sector’s Role in Service Delivery

To read the full press release click here.

Performance Management: New Guidance and Info Restructure

Performance management guidance has been improved on the IDeA Knowledge website as part of the strategic working between IDeA and the Audit Commission to bring performance management together in a consistent way. Read more

Benefits from Mobile Technology – Video Case Study

Discover how the London Borough of Islington is achieving real benefits from the implementation of mobile technology including improved staff productive time and customer service, and reduced office accommodation costs.  Click here for further information.

Project Nomad – June Newsletter now available

The National Project for Mobile and Flexible Working in Local Government update for Regional Centres of Excellence can be downloaded here.  For more information about Project Nomad visit the website

The Nomad Wireless Briefing 

A briefing note is also available from the Nomad Wireless Forum – a group aiming to raise awareness of the developments of wireless technology within local government and the public sector. The briefing can also be downloaded using this link.

Early Market Engagement – Principles and Examples of Good Practice

This OGC booklet provides an introduction to successful early market engagement. It is for anyone involved in setting procurement policy and/or conducting procurement exercises in the public sector.

4Ps Gateway Review Training

Gateway reviews are independent reviews of strategic acquisition projects performed on behalf of Project Owners at key decision points by independent, appropriately experienced peers.  This can add significant value to a project enabling a different perspective to be offered on key issues and if necessary allowing them to be addressed before they become major hurdles to the project succeeding.  The findings and recommendations of all Gateway Reviews remain confidential to the project owner who has the responsibility to take action after the report is issued.  Although they are not part of an approval process, Gateway Reviews can give the project owner increased confidence at key decision points.

The North West Centre of Excellence has arranged a number of sub-regional training courses for those interested in becoming reviewers and will discuss the best way to progress reviews for those projects classed as medium risk.

Dates and venues are as follows:

27.07.2006                Penrith Town Hall

28.07.2006                Lancaster University Conference Centre

22.08.2006                Manchester Town Hall

30.08.2006                Liverpool Town Hall

31.08.2006                Chester Town Hall

If you wish to attend you need to complete the application form by clicking here and returning it as soon as possible to Bev Brooks at NWCE.  Places are very limited, so please book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you require any further information please contact Bev Brooks at NWCE.

eInvoicing Workshop – July 18^th

The re-arranged eInvoicing workshop is now confirmed for 9am to 1pm Tue 18^th July at Wigan Investment Centre. The day will include presentations from leading suppliers OB10, CMS International and local government. It is also hoped that  HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC)

HMCE will also be present for the discussion session. A copy of the full agenda can be found here.

Places are limited so please email Rebecca McDevitt at NWCE to confirm.

Energy Buying – 4^th July London and 28^th July Preston

Two events are being run to look at challenges around energy buying.

The first is to look at planning a Local Government Energy Improvement Action Plan suitable for our region looking to achieve a 10% efficiency saving. Ideally the NW would like to send :

i.               Two energy buyers/managers (with some experience of the regional consortia from a client aspect)

ii.             Two procurement Managers

iii.            One Project Manager who will be responsible for taking forward the resultant action plan

If you would like to become involved in this initiative please email Neil Hind.  A full agenda can be found here.

The second event on 28^th July at The Hub, Preston will cover the changing energy markets, new procurement options and why these are best practice. It will also look at how to access these options and generate savings. A full agenda can be found here.  Places are limited so please email  Rebecca McDevitt at NWCE to confirm.

Project Board Reminders – 11^th July – Tameside

A quick reminder. The Procurement Card Project Board will take place at 10am followed by the Portal Project Board at 1pm, both on 11^th July. If you are interested in more details please email Neil Hind

NWEGG EVENTS - For information regarding forthcoming NWeGG events please click here.