News Update

Week Ending 28th October 2005

Cambridge Conference

DEFRA, the Government Office of the East of England, and the Regional Centres of Excellence are hosts to a major international conference "Sustainable Public Procurement and Securing the Future" on the 3rd and 4th November 2005.  The latest initiatives and policies on sustainable public procurement being driven by the EC will be covered, along with key actions from the UK sustainable development strategy, new developments in the national procurement strategy and the launch of the new strategic priorities on sustainable procurement. 

For further information please click here.

Documentation regarding the above event can be found here: -

Registration Form;

Programme;

New Strategic Priority for Local Government;

Invitation Letter.

Flexible Working Hours /Accommodation Reviews – Can your Authority help?

Cardiff Council Scrutiny Services Research & Information Team are undertaking a brief scoping of local authority efficiencies practice in (i) Flexible Working and (ii) Accommodation Reviews.  They are currently attempting to draw together a list of UK local authorities that have developed good practice in terms of introducing flexible working or undertaking accommodation reviews for efficiency purposes. This would encompass pilot schemes, initiatives, authority-wide re-organisations or efficiency gains under the recent Government framework (Delivering Efficiency Gains in Local Services). Any advice as to which English local authorities have developed recognisable practice in terms of the range of themes associated with flexible working or accommodation reviews, such as teleworking, mobile working, flexible hours schemes, job-sharing, hot-desking, open-plan, etc. would be greatly appreciated.  Of particular interest are details of authorities with 'pioneering' or established practice, together with any appropriate officer contact details.

If your authority can assist with the above please contact the Centre – nwce@tameside.gov.uk

Job Opportunities - Update

Following previous information regarding the above, the Centre is currently reviewing its priorities, which will involve considering future structure.  The Centre will be looking to recruit, but the formal process will not start until late December 2005 / early January 2006.
We are grateful for expressions of interest received and will retain them.
If you have any queries please contact the Centre – nwce@tameside.gov.uk

EVENTS

New EU Directives Seminars

The flyer, agenda and booking form are now available for the above events.  All delegates wishing to attend need to complete and return a booking form to Bev at the Centre (bev.brooks@tameside.gov.uk).  All those who have already expressed an interest in attending will be sent a booking form.

The documents can be found by following these links: -  Flyer;     Agenda;     Booking Form.

Please circulate information regarding these events to all who may be interested within your authority.

Transforming Adult Services Event

PSF are holding the following event on January 31st for those involved in Adult Services:

“Transforming Adult Services: Independence, Well-being and Choice” at Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham

The event will be chaired by Dr Glenys Jones (Joint Chair of the Older People's Committee, ADSS and Director of Social Services, Sunderland) and the programme will include case study presentations including “From Boom to Busses”; “Electronic Social Care Records – from procurement to implementation”; “Single Assessment Process – Making it a Reality”; “The early identification of vulnerable adults”; and “Person Centred Planning for all”

The full agenda with a link to the online booking form can be found here

The day will take the format of a series of 'best practice' presentations, followed by properly facilitated round table discussion with plenty of time for networking with public sector colleagues.