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Related Links News Updates |
News UpdateWeek Ending 24th March 2006
Collaborative Vehicle Services Project
The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities is looking to undertake a collaborative vehicle services project. This covers the procurement of a range of vehicles, which includes Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCVs) and small commercial vehicles up to 6.5 tonnes (cars, vans, mini-buses, tippers).
With the collective numbers of vehicles the project aims to deliver better value for money and consistently achieve the highest level of customer services for all organisations taking part (delivery, training, stocks etc). If you are interested in taking part in this project please contact the Project Manager, Joseph Somers - j.somers@agma.gov.uk
Can You Help???? Suppliers’ Opinions of Council Services
Cumbria County Council is looking to send a questionnaire to their top 75 suppliers seeking their opinions on Council services etc. This is to identify & improve upon any inefficiencies in the purchasing function of the Council.
Has your council done anything similar? Do you have a copy of a questionnaire Cumbria CC could look at?
If you can offer any advice or assistance please contact Nicola Bell at Cumbria CC; tel: 01228 607763 or Beverley Brooks at NWCE.
Can You Help???? Tender for Inspection and Repair of Cemetery Headstones
Preston City Council is preparing to tender for the inspection and repair of cemetery headstones. Are any other North West Local Authorities interested in joining up? If you have existing contracts, can your knowledge and experience be shared?
For further information, or if you can assist, please contact b.hayhurst@preston.gov.uk as soon as possible.
2006 Efficiency Guidance - 10 March 2006
Please download a letter from Sue Reid to local authorities along with guidance on future targets:
Efficiency Guidance Publication
“One Year On” Information Pack
The “One Year
On” information pack offers advice on the key points that need to be considered
when implementing effective programme management arrangements to deliver
efficiencies. It also explains the requirements of the Annual Efficiency
Statement scrutiny process, sets out the various projects and activities
underway by government departments and Regional Centres of Excellence (RCE), and
lists sources of further information and good practice examples.
EVENTS
Demonstrating Efficiency 28th 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, next to the Reebok Stadium in 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.
For further information please contact Keisha Adair at APSE, tel: 0161 772 1810.
High Cost Placements Project – Launch Event 27th April 2006
The North West Centre of Excellence are pleased to be holding the launch event for a key project to identify efficiency opportunities in respect of high cost placements for adults.
This project has stemmed from the NWCE Health and Social Care Programme Board and will review cost, quality and appropriateness of activity in respect of adults with learning and/or physical disability in the North West.
The project aims to:
To manage the scope of the work effectively seven pilot authorities have volunteered to participate. They are:
The event will be attended by key managers in those councils involved with the pilot project.
For further information please contact Beverley Brooks at the NCWE.
Local Economies Workstream Meeting 7th April 2006, Lancaster House Hotel, Lancaster
The next meeting of the Local Economies workstream will take place on 7th April 2006 at the Lancaster House Hotel, Lancaster at 2.00pm.
For further information please contact Beverley Brooks at the NWCE.
Advanced Notice: eProcurement Reference Group Meeting - Thursday 8th June
Following from the successful meeting on 3rd March 2006 (despite the snow), a further eProcurement reference meeting will take place from 10.00am to 3pm on the 8th June 2006 at The Investment Centre, Wigan. This is a free event, open to representatives from North West Councils with an interest in eProcurement.
The presentations from the March event are available via the events section of the NWCE website.
For further information please contact the NWCE.
Framework Agreements
A number of North West authorities have shown interest in collaborating on regional agreements. With aggregated volumes it is envisaged that better terms can be negotiated. If you are interested in collaborating on Energy, Travel or Telecoms agreements then please email Rebecca McDevitt.
OGC.Buying solutions have also released a “Great Deals” document (link to document) that list their top 10 products and services, representing quick and easy answers to procurement challenges. These either reflect current best value for that particular commodity, confirmed by independent benchmarking, or because there is no other route offering this particular solution available to public sector procurement professionals. Limited hard copies of this leaflet are available from the centre on request.
For further information please contact the NWCE.
Connected North West 30th March 2006, Tatton Park, Knutsford
Please click here to view the agenda for the above meeting, which is being hosted jointly between SOCITM NW, Cheshire CC and NWeGG.
This meeting is also open to all NW local authorities, so please encourage others from your authority to attend.
Don't forget, this is a good networking opportunity!
For further information or to register for the event please contact Denise Griffiths, Regional Secretary, SOCITM NW – tel: 01244 602172.
esd-toolkit BPM Village – Expo 06; 5th/6th April 2006, London Docklands
NWeGG is pleased to be supporting the esd-toolkit BPM Village, part of this year's Local Government Expo. The event in Docklands, 5th and 6th of April, brings together many of the key elements of local government of which Business Process Management is seen as core. The event will be the ideal opportunity for local government officers and members to think about, and discuss, their business transformation agendas.
A number of seminars will be available as part of the esd-toolkit BPM Village and we advise members to book quickly, via the (soon to be released) Expo booking system, as places are limited. You are particularly encouraged to attend the following session:
Your Council, Your Processes (3.40 pm on both days)
The North West e Government Group (NWeGG), supported by esd-toolkit, will be launching the outputs from the ODPM sponsored process architecture project based at Blackburn with Darwen. The Process Architecture contains a set of materials, specifically for each type of authority, that aim to help you understand how your organisation works. The session will look at how these can be used to help understand and transform your council’s services. These outputs have proved to be invaluable to those councils involved in the validation stages of the project.
A full listing of seminars at the BPM village can be found by clicking here.
NWeGG Events
Please click here to view the latest Events Update from NWeGG.
CCINW - Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral Construction Best Practice Club Event Tuesday 28th March 2006, The Chatsworth Suite, The Centre at Birchwood Park, Warrington
Theme: Respecting your workforce is right and proper; it also makes good business sense
Speakers: Will Kilby, Chamber Link (Greater Manchester) Andrew Thomas and Roy Stewart, Centre for Construction Innovation
Will Kilby has been working as an adviser to the construction industry for nearly 10 years and entered the role with first hand knowledge and experience of the needs of small to medium businesses. Will’s presentation shall be Investors in People. Andrew Thomas is the Operations Director at CCI and sits on the Main Board of Constructing Excellence, representing the English Regional Centres.
Roy Stewart is a Project Manager at CCI whose main focus is on sustainability and the environment, procurement and company training. Roy has worked at CCI for 4 years and has over 20 years experience in the construction industry in construction, property development and as a consultant.
Andrew Thomas and Roy Stewart from CCI will explain the background to Respect for People and detail how the use of the Toolkits and KPIs can compliment an organisations push for Investors in People and measure continual improvement.
Topics within the Presentation will be:
The event will start with a networking breakfast.
If you would like to attend the event please contact Denise Barry; tel: 01772 693 100.
CCINW - North Manchester Construction Best Practice Club Event Tuesday March 28TH 2006, Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale
Theme: Equality and Diversity
Speakers: Ehjaz Gull, Accent Group Alyas Karmani, Freelance Management Consultant Jane Crompton, Youthbuild Elevate
The session itself is aimed at being a taster for the construction sector and in particular will focus on how working proactively on equality and diversity issues adds value to the construction industry and also equips them with the skills necessary for operating in a rapidly changing business environment and in a highly dynamic work sector. Key to this process is recognising the business case for diversity and how diversity makes money for the construction industry; other key issues are diversifying the workforce and accessing employees from diverse backgrounds to meet skills shortages and workforce requirements. Further issues are meeting statutory employment directives such as Article 13 proactively, procurement, and balancing the needs to respond to employment legislation whilst maximising business benefits such as incorporating underrepresented groups in the construction supply chain and also accessing international opportunities.
If you would like to attend this event please contact Pat Davies; tel 0161 295 5076.
Feel free to contact CCINW or browse their website for further information.
OGC Buying Solutions Event, 20/21 June 2006, Earls Court, London
The Regional Centres of Excellence are co-sponsoring the annual conference Procurement Solutions for the Public Sector in June, in partnership with OGC and OGC Buying Solutions. Approximately 300 exhibitors will be taking part and the programme is designed to help public sector policy makers, buyers and influencers to make better procurement decisions, build better relationships with suppliers and ensure procurement systems work in the most effective manner. Tim Byles, Chair of the RCE Chief Executives Task Force will be delivering a keynote address and the RCEs will be chairing a series of workshops as well as exhibiting on the main floor. To book your place visit the website: http://www.procurementsolutions.gov.uk/
Framework for Better Deals Road Shows – OGCbuying.solutions 25 April 2006, Urbis, Manchester
OGCbuying.solutions will be presenting this series of road shows to share
information and update the public sector on the new range of its frameworks: how
they are structured and how they will make it easier to source products and
services, as well as comply with new EU legislation. The events will offer
practical assistance on how to use the frameworks, and offer the opportunity to
meet key Buying Solutions personnel. The road shows will help those involved in public sector procurement to:
For advice or information on public sector procurement, email custcare@ogcbs.gsi.gov.uk or contact OGCbuying.solutions Customer Service Desk 0845 410 2222.
Please click here to register.
For further information about the above events please click here, or email NWCE.
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