News Update

Week Ending 25th November 2005

Can you Help????

Cumbria CC would appreciate advice and/or assistance from any councils who have or are in the process of implementing a P2P solution – advice would be welcome regarding a communications strategy.

Information is also sought from any councils who have a purchasing card strategy and business plan.

If you can offer any advice or assistance please contact NWCE.

Case Studies

Good Practice Case Studies - These case studies are sponsored by the Regional Centres and highlight good practice currently taking place in local authorities supporting the delivery of efficiency gains and improving front line services for the local community.

Download  Birmingham Construction Partnership Case Study

Further Case Studies - The Local Government Task Force (the body that promotes best practice in construction in local government) has published six case studies. For more information on the LGTF please contact Natalie Clinton on 020 7592 1149

Barking & Dagenham Case Study “The Introduction of best practice programme management principles – The Balanced Scorecard”

Durham Case Study  “Strategic Alliances for Civil Engineering and Construction and Maintenance Services”

Manchester Case Study  “Education Framework 1, developed to construct educational building projects”

Norfolk Case Study “The ISC and Norfolk County Council Contractor Partnering Framework”

North Tyneside Case Study “The North Tyneside Partnering Agreement”

St Helens Case Study “The adoption of fair payment practice”

Final Report on ICT and Public Service Efficiency (Adobe & Work Foundation)

Senior Managers and frontline staff at all levels of government are struggling to realise the potential of ICT to meet the efficiency targets set by the Gershon Review.  This week finds the Work Foundation publishing their final report in the series, looking at Public Services and ICT, sponsored by Adobe.  Over two thirds of frontline staff are unsure what 'efficiency' means, and two thirds of frontline managers do not see ICT as being integral to public service reforms.

Based on the Government's 'Transformational Government: Enabled by Technology' report the forthcoming eGovernment strategy must rapidly put in place the building blocks to engage leaders of organisations in thinking about ICT's contribution early on and managing the risks of its failure.  The Work Foundation's report concludes that if the potential of ICT is to be realised, there is a need to better understand customers, to listen to staff, to create a better debate about privacy and data sharing and to learn lessons from others.

Click here to download the full report.

DEFRA October Review

DEFRA WIP Local Authority Support Unit have produced their monthly review for October 2004.  To view the report, please click here.

Shared Corporate & Transactional Services: Workforce Implications

The Efficiency agenda has stimulated interest in the significant savings that can be made by councils working together, and with other providers on services such as finance and HR.

Recent ODPM research shows that nearly two-thirds of local authorities are either involved in or are considering sharing "back office" services with other local authorities.  Success in these ventures requires integrated and well-planned approach to workforce issues if unexpected costs and unwanted political consequences are to be avoided.

Download: Shared Corporate & Transactional Services in local government: Guidance for members and senior managers on workforce implications

or download a summary and a quick checklist of questions: http://www.lg-employers.gov.uk/efficiency/collaboration.html

Efficiency Challenge - The administration costs of revenues and benefits

This report examines the national context of revenues and benefits including changes in legislation and guidance, the costs of providing the services, the approach councils take to changing how they deliver these services, the successes and difficulties for partnerships in delivering transactional services, the additional cost issues facing London boroughs and how direct debit can contribute to improved efficiency.

To view the report follow this link - http://www.auditcommission.gov.uk/reports/NATIONAL-REPORT.asp?CategoryID=&ProdID=8EA476B3-407B-44c3-9B55-C30FB27E858B&fromREPORTSANDDATA=NATIONAL-REPORT

The Efficiency Programme – Achieving Savings

This special Efficiency programme examines the progress achieved by Authorities to-date, and the challenges ahead in identifying and realising the further efficiencies and cashable savings demanded over the next three years.  The programme features a keynote interview with Phil Woolas MP, Minister for Local Government, panel discussions and case studies of efficiencies achieved across a wide variety of customer facing services and back-office functions.  To view, click here.

Shared services in local government: the workforce implications

The Employers Organisation has issued new guidance for senior members and managers who are responsible for developing shared services in collaboration with other councils or partners. The guidance examines the people issues that need to be taken into account, such as the relocation of jobs, redundancies and HR capacity, and suggests how they might be

approached.  For more information click here. 

EVENTS

Framework Agreements Workstream – Next Meeting

The next meeting of the above workstream, originally planned for 13^th December 2005 has been cancelled and re-scheduled and will now take place on 20^th December 2005 at 1.00pm at Knowsley Training and Development Centre.  Please could all workstream members amend their diaries accordingly.  For further information regarding this workstream please contact Bev at the NWCE.

Defra & RCE Events "Efficiency and Transformation in Environmental Services”

Covering waste management and street cleansing. 21^st November (Newcastle), 25^th November (Exeter), 30^th November (Gatwick), 2^nd December (Nottingham), 14^th December (Birmingham), 10^th January (Leeds), 12^th January (Cambridge), 18^th January (Manchester) and 26^th January (London).  For further information please click here.

WEBSITE

Please note that our former website address – www.nwcope.org.uk will be unavailable from the end of December 2005.  Please use our current web address – www.nwce.org.uk and ensure you save this to your favourites!