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Related Links News Updates |
News Update Week Ending 24 November 2006
OGC Contracts Database
The OGC have collated a number of pan government contracts, of which the majority are available to local government. These are all OJEU compliant and come from a number of local and central government sources. Details can be found at http://www.ogc.gov.uk/procurementcontracts
Construction Framework Update
The building and construction frameworks outlined at the 3rd October Bargain Hunt event have been delayed slightly. It is expected that successful bidders will be informed at the end of November with a launch event being planned for mid December. We will keep all informed of progress.
National Framework for Spend Analysis
The South East Centre of Excellence on behalf of all nine Regional Centres of Excellence commenced a tendering exercise for the provision of Spend Analysis services in March 2006. In June 2006 Invitations to Tender were dispatched to six potential providers. Four submissions were received in August and following a robust presentation and analysis process the contract was awarded to two providers; Exor Management Services and Spikes Cavell Co.
View full details of these agreements.
Liverpool Agency Staff Project
Liverpool CC have implemented a framework agreement for the procurement of agency staff. View the detailed case study and an overview of the cost control elements.
Please call Reed Managed Services on 0208 274 4396 for more information on how your Council can take advantage of this Framework agreement.
NWCE Standards Workstream
The NWCE Standards group met on 20th November to review progress made to date, consider some of the barriers to progress and identify objectives for the next 12 months which will meet the needs of the North West region. The group aims to ensure the North West have effective access to appropriate standard templates and documents around procurement and financial regulations.
A meeting of the group to discuss the above was held on 20.11.2006 – view the notes of the meeting.
Documents emanating from this group will be available on the NWCE website. One of the tasks of the group is to agree a name for the ‘Standards Library’ – this needs to be a user friendly name which will summarise the type of documents which can be found here. Do you have an innovative idea for this? If so please contact Beverley Brooks at the NWCE,
If you would lie further information about the standards group, or are interested in becoming involved please contact Beverley Brooks.
NWIN - Launch of the Communities of Interest Programme
NWIN have allocated £500k to support local authority led establishment of Communities of Interest and are inviting local authorities to come together and submit applications for funding.
From NWIN’s perspective Communities of Interest have been defined as:
“a group bringing together stakeholders from different communities of practice or backgrounds for their collective concern to find a resolution to a problem or an issue”
By creating Communities of Interest and bringing local authorities and partners to come together, it provides a real opportunity for Councils to try and resolve some of the main and difficult issues relating to capacity building facing the north west region today. NWIN are looking for applications that :
- Perhaps reflect the needs of a particular sub-region and is geographical based - represent shared concerns amongst a group of Councils working together - Is based on a Lead Authority with Local Authority Participation from across the region
NWIN are looking to award upto £75k per application. Joint funding/ matched funding or additional funding from other sources will enhance the success of your application.
Deadline date for all applications is 12th January 2007.
For further details about the Communities of Interest programme and how to apply please contact Sheela Vara, Policy and Performance Manager, NWIN, Tel 01942 827670, email: s.vara@wiganmbc.gov.uk
NWIN Individual Studentship Bursaries – "Seeking Improvement through Shared Learning"
Has lack of funding prevented you from bringing an idea for improvement to fruition? Do you have a dream that will bring about long-term improvements or a vision that will support our shared drive to become a region of excellence in local governance? Would £5,000 additional funding help you make this a reality? NWIN Individual Studentship Bursaries – further information.
EVENTS
Improving the Local Provision of Culture and Sport – Workshop 27.11.2006 – 9am to 1pm
An important workshop at the end of November is set to show leisure and culture heads how to become winners!
Centre for Local Governance Launch - 29.11.2006, Manchester University
The Centre for Local Governance will be launched at a reception following the NWIN Strategic Board at 4:15pm at the Centre's offices as the University of Manchester.
The launch marks the start of a unique multi-million pound partnership between the Northwest Local authorities, Fire and Rescue Service and The University of Manchester.
Look out for the invitations to the launch being sent out soon.
Practical Process & Efficiency using ABC Workshop 28.11.06
Following
the success of the last NWeGG, ABC workshop which took place in July, there has
been a huge demand to run another workshop with Roger Cooper from
Valueadding.com.
High Cost Placements Project (Health and Social Care Programme Board) ‘Think Tank’ Meeting – 29.11.2006, Wigan Investment Centre
The second feedback meeting following the data gathering exercise for high cost adult placements is taking place on 29th November at Wigan Investment Centre, from 10am to 12 noon. Invites have been distributed to the contact list we have, however if you would like further information about this project, or the meeting, please contact Beverley Brooks at the NWCE.
Beacon Open Day – ‘Valuing People’ - Rotherham MBC 29.11.2006, Rotherham Town Hall
Rotherham MBC is proud of enabling people with Learning Disabilities to have the things that really matter to them, including: · Having a real voice in planning their future · Making their own decisions · Being part of the community · Having a home, a job and a social life Attend Rotherham’s Open Day and find out how they are offering a Learning Disability Service that is service user focused. Rotherham’s service users will help them to show the successes of the Learning Disability Service. You’ll be able to experience and enjoy learning about some of the projects Rotherham helps to support, including ‘SpeakUp Self Advocacy’.
For further information and/or to attend this exciting event, download the invitation; agenda and booking form.
White Paper discussion – 29.11.2006, Centre for Local Governance
NWIN and the Centre for Local Governance are pleased to announce that they are hosting a discussion on the Local Government White paper published on Thursday 26th October. Date: Wednesday 29th November 2006 Time: 1:00pm - 2:30pm Venue: Centre for Local Governance Invitations to this exciting event led by Professor Gerry Stoker will be sent out soon. For more information please contact Jez Lloyd.
Buy Recycled in Waste Facility Construction 06.12.2006
Envirolink Northwest http://www.envirolinknorthwest.co.uk/ (a not for profit company set up by the NWDA to promote, strengthen and support the environmental technologies and services sector in England's Northwest), is staging a free event called ‘Buy Recycled in Waste Facility Construction’. The event is taking place at the Warrington Wolves rugby ground, the Halliwell Jones Stadium, on the morning of the 6th December 2006.
The event will focus on the various reasons why recycled products and materials should be specified and used in the construction of the numerous waste management facilities that Disposal Authorities, Unitaries and Collection Authorities will need to build to meet the demands of increased waste and recyclables collection and materials sorting.
As well as three keynote speakers (Barbara Morton - Project Manager for the Sustainable Procurement Task Force, Carl Beer - Director of Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority and a member of WRAP's Procurement and Construction team), there will be approximately 15 exhibitor companies who are either manufacturing recycled content products for or using them in related construction projects.
Contact Linda McGeechan. 01925 813 200 or e-mail events@envirolinknorthwest.co.uk
Procurement Planning Workshop for 2007 10am to 3pm Friday 08.12.2006
The NWCE Procurement Programme is starting to plan for 2007. As such, we would like to run an informal workshop with stakeholders within the region. A full agenda is being devised but the purpose of the day will to look at how we can build on work from this year to further help authorities meet their procurement and saving targets. We will also look at possible events and working groups required for next year, keeping in mind a more sub-regional approach. Room is limited so please contact neil.hind@hind.co.uk for more details.
NWCE Health and Social Care Programme Board – Next Meeting – 08.12.2006
The next meeting of the NWCE Health and Social Care Programme Board will take place on 8th December 2006 at 10.00am at Wigan Investment Centre. For further information about this programme board please contact Beverley Brooks at NWCE.
A key purpose of the meeting will be to refine and update the focus of the Programme Board to ensure that the objectives of the board meet with the needs of adult and child social care services.
Postal Procurement Workshop 1pm to 4.30pm Monday 11.12.2006 (venue tbc)
The NWCE is looking to help local authorities reduce postal procurement costs. This first workshop will look at deals available and how procurement may be undertaken on a regional basis. The change management activities will also be considered. We will also be discussing the new ‘On the Money’ guide to getting a better deal in postal services document, produced jointly by the Regional Centres of Excellence. Please contact Beverley Brooks at NWCE to reserve a space.
NWeGG Project and Programme Management Seminar - 12.12.2006
NWeGG are holding a Project and Programme Management Seminar on the 12th December at Stockport. One of the country’s leading thinkers on Programme Management, Dr Geoff Reiss, will be giving a seminar and holding a discussion session. Register on the NWeGG website at http://www.nwegg.org.uk/interface/view_events.asp?id=339
Travel Procurement Workshop 10am to 1pm Tuesday 16.01.2006 (venue tbc)
The NWCE is looking to help local authorities reduce travel and hotel procurement costs. This first workshop will look at deals available and how procurement may be undertaken on a regional basis. The change management activities will also be considered. Please contact bev.brooks@tameside.gov.uk to reserve a space.
For further information about NWCE events please see the EVENTS SECTION of the NWCE website. |
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