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News Update Week Ending 27th October 2006
NWCE eProcurement Newsletter – Autumn 2006
The Autumn edition of the NWCE eProcurement Newsletter is now available. Download the newsletter.
This newsletter contains project updates on the following: · Procurement Cards · Contract Register · eMarketPlace · Procurement Portal · eAuctions
Also contained is information regarding the recent successful ‘Bargain Hunt’ event and a forthcoming eProcurement Reference Day.
High Cost Placements Project (Health and Social Care Programme Board)
The NWCE held a ‘think tank’ meeting in respect of the above project on 16th October. This was to consider the outcome of the High Cost Placements work undertaken across all North West social care authorities. This session was very successful and highlighted a number of options for further analysis and potential efficiency gains. A further session to progress this work will be held on 29th November in Manchester- venue to be confirmed. Invitations have been distributed. For further information on this project please contact Beverley Brooks at NWCE.
Secure Storage
Cheshire Police are looking to collaborate on an agreement for the secure storage of documents starting mid 2007. If any organization has a similar requirement then please contact Anita.Gibbs7575@cheshire.pnn.police.uk.
Funding for Microgeneration
The NWCE is working with the DTI and OGC on promoting micro generation in the region and substantial funding has been made available. Please view the presentation for further details or contact Rachel Crisps at the DTI via 0207 215 0303 or Rachel.Crisp@dti.gsi.gov.uk.
Energy Benchmarking
Thank you to those who completed the Energy Benchmarking spreadsheets. Download the results and brief presentation on the findings. It can be seen that there is a large variation in prices on this small sample.
We are looking to continue work with OGC and OGC.buyingsolutions on who NW authorities can obtain the best energy prices in the market. Please contact the centre if you require any further information.
Postal Service
A large number of local authorities have expressed an interest in collaborating on postal services. The NWCE is currently in discussions with a number of organisation on the best way to progress as this could be a major undertaking, but with substantial savings. Please download a guide to getting a better postal deal produced by the RCEs that outlines the steps that will be required.
Procurement Classification – PROCLASS
The NWCE is encouraging local authorities who are categorizing their expenditure to take up PROCLASS, a new standard for procurement classification. By having a common approach across the region it will make future benchmarking and collaboration less onerous. View details of PROCLASS.
Further work has been done to map the PROCLASS categories to NSV (National Supplies Vocabulary), UNSPSC (United Nations Standard Products and Services Code) and Thomson categories. Details of this mapping can be found here.
Please contact the NWCE if you require any further details.
Strong and Prosperous Communities – The Local Government White Paper
The aim of this white paper is to give local people and local communities more influence and power to improve their lives. It is about creating strong, prosperous communities and delivering better public services through a rebalancing of the relationship between central government, local government and local people.
To order printed copies: visit the DCLG website. Read DCLG’s News Release on the White Paper with quotes from Tony Blair and Ruth Kelly.
EVENTS
Local Government Engagement Event, 2 November 2006 - 1.00pm - 4.30pm, Skills Northwest Conference Centre
This is an exciting opportunity to ensure that local government perspectives feature in two plans being developed in respect of local government service development. The Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Centre of Excellence (Y&H RCE) is leading on the development of a delivery plan for corporate and transactional services (C&TS) in local government. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is making recommendations to local government in respect of Shared Services, this will take the form of a sector plan for shared services which could have a profound impact on the agenda for local government in developing shared services.
The delivery plan for C&TS and the sector plan for shared services are considered imperative by DCLG in identifying where the 'big wins' are in terms of efficiencies and service improvements and how these 'big wins' can be realised by local authorities. The two plans will contain a vision for the future based on evidence of what constitutes best practice and what is achievable.
The North West Centre of Excellence (NWCE) is running a workshop to take place on Thursday 2nd November 2006 1.00pm - 4.30pm at Skills North West, St Helens.
This workshop will provide a key input from the perspective of local government into the work DCLG and Y&H CE is carrying out as well as giving DCLG the opportunity to test out in a live setting some of the assumptions that have been developed as part of research into C&TS and Shared services.
The NWCE hopes that the event will be attended by local government Chief Executives, Council Leaders and change agents and will ensure that the views of local government are reflected in the eventual planning.
Since the event is of high priority for the local government community, your support would be greatly appreciated. Please ensure your authority is represented. For further information or to book places please contact Beverley Brooks at the NWCE:
Agency Staffing Project Engagement Day 3 November 2006
The NWCE in partnership with AGMA are pleased to announce Agency Staffing Project Engagement Day. Public Sector expenditure on Agency Workers across the UK is estimated be in the region of £12 billion per annum and is believed to be in excess of £50 million purely with AGMA.
As you may be aware the AGMA Agency Staffing Project is progressing well and has completed a quick win exercise that could save over £2million across the eleven participating authorities and associations. The success of the project to date demonstrates the power of true organisational collaboration. Not only will each organisation gain substantial ‘cash’ savings and streamlined processes, but a new model would afford greater control over the quality of agency workers for all parties.
This event will demonstrate with further single authority and collaborative case studies from Lancashire, Southwark, Fulham and the OGC (who in partnership with the London RCE have developed a toolkit for agency Staff projects) how this process is already proved to work. We will take you through all the phases of the project, from Pre-Implementation to Delivery right through to What Happens Next and Future Operations.
The event will be held in Manchester (Barbirolli Square) on Friday 3rd November. To see the agenda and map please click here
To register for this event please email viv.greatwich@tameside.gov.uk with full contact details of those who you would like to attend. Numbers are limited so will be allocated on a first served basis. We look forward to seeing you there.
Regional Transformational Government Discussion Event 9 November 2006
The North West Centre of Excellence is hosting a regional transformational government discussion event (organised by the Cabinet Office and DCLG). The event is taking place on Thursday 9th November at Ashton Town Hall, commencing 12.00noon with buffet lunch.
This is an opportunity to discuss this important topic with fellow authorities, senior DCLG and Cabinet Office representatives and shape future thinking in policy development.
Date: Thursday 9 November 2006
Register at: www.govevents.co.uk
The Transformational Local Government discussion paper can be found at www.cio.gov.uk/documents/pdf/transgov/trans_local_gov060328.pdf . This paper identifies some of the key issues and questions and is a useful starting point for our discussions on the day.
For further information please click here.
Improving the Local Provision of Culture and Sport – Workshop 27.11.2006 – 9am to 1pm
A workshop on improving the local provision of culture and sport is being run by the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) in conjunction with the North West Centre of Excellence. The event is aimed at the chief cultural heads of service in each local authority, but we also welcome the attendance of other interested local authority officers and elected members responsible for culture and sport. Please pass this invitation onto any other appropriate people.
Details of the agenda for the day will be available in the near future.
This is an opportunity for you to discuss your experience of the Efficiency Programme and other performance management issues such as CPA (Comprehensive Performance Assessment), and learn from the lessons of other local authorities. The event will focus on the ways in which efficiency gains have been found in culture, sport, library, and tourism provision and subsequently recycled into frontline services that meet the public’s priorities. This workshop will therefore assist you to ensure that the gains made in the Gershon Efficiency Programme actually lead to genuine improvements in the procurement and delivery of these services within your council.
The workshops will be led by the head of the Local Government Efficiency Programme at DCMS, and will provide an ideal opportunity to take advantage of the expertise of the North West RCE to identify good practice in the delivery of culture and leisure services and make the improvement agenda work for you.
You will also find out more about the priorities and the landscape confronting local authorities as they embark upon the third year of the efficiency review in 2007-08. This will feature a discussion of the impact of the Culture Services assessment within the CPA, the introduction of Regional Commentaries and the implications of self assessment on local authority spending and performance.
For further information or if you would like to attend please contact Cathy Page, Head of Evidence and Communication, Regional and Local Govt Unit, DCMS – Tel: 0207 2116491; email cathy.page@culture.gsi.gov.uk
National Framework Agreement for Telecare Awareness Day – 14 November 2006
The NFA for Telecare - Awareness Day is an essential event for all professionals involved in providing telecare services. The conference will raise awareness of the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency telecare national framework agreement and how the agreement supports the development of telecare in England. If you are interested two dates & locations are available: · Tuesday 14th November 2006 at the Russell Hotel in London. · Thursday 23rd November 2006 at the Ellan Road Football Stadium in Leeds. For a detailed programme and how to register, follow this link.
For further information about NWCE events please see the EVENTS SECTION of the NWCE website.
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