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Procurement News
Framework of the week - Tyres and Associated Services
This week's 'framework of the week' is for Tyres and Associated Services (click on the link for further details).
The benefits of the framework agreement, that is with two leading suppliers, Michelin Tyre Plc and ATS Euromaster, are:
- tyres and associated services can be bought through entering into call-off contracts with suppliers.
- there's no need to advertise for similar requirements in the Official Journal of the European Union (“OJEU”) and to run separate public procurement exercises.
- it provides immediate access to the best competitive prices and terms available to the public sector via the NHS PASA Framework
If you have a framework agreement that you would like the NWCE to promote and include on their website list, or if you have any general enquiries, please email the details to Adam Neill / tel
Check it Out!
The North West Centre of Excellence is creating an on-line catalogue of prices for goods and services - called Price Checker. This catalogue will allow authorities in the north west to compare their own prices with those of other authorities and to potentially make savings.
Many authorities have already been contacted by the NWCE to provide information for Price Checker, and the North West Centre of Excellence would like to thank all those who have contributed.
Should you wish to contribute, or if you have any questions regarding Price Checker, please contact us.
Picture This
The NWCE wants to know more about the procurement capacity and resources in the region and the procurement structures that are in place in councils across the North West, as well as the adhoc procurement activity that occurs within individual council departments.
To help us create a comprehensive procurement picture, we have out together a short survey that we would like you to fill in. The survey will only take five minutes to complete and your responses will help us to tailor our future procurement programme activity to meet your requirements. To access the survey please click here
Shared Services News
We Want to be Together!
Download the new edition of Share It! - the bi-monthly North West Shared Services Programme newsletter. This newsletter provides information on the North West Shared Services Programme, the forthcoming CLG Business Improvement Package and other relevant information. Should you wish to discuss the NW Shared Services Programme, please contact Olly Baker.
Sick of Absence?
Absence levels in local government are continuing to fall and the Health and Safety Executive have recently published a suite of documents under the heading of “The Well Managed Organisation” that provides information on tacking attendance management. Three products have been developed:
- Guidelines for Boards
- Guidelines for HR Directors and Senior Managers
- A Toolkit for Handling Sickness Absence
To see the guidance please click here.
Health and Social Care News
Read all About It!
Download the latest CSED (Care Services Efficiency Delivery) Newsletter, containing valuable information on the activities and progress of CSED over the last quarter.
General News
Web Wonder
THE new-look NWCE web site is proving to be a hit.
Since it was launched in January, the number of visits to the site has been increasing.
In fact, there was a 14 per cent rise in hits to the web site from January to February.
Almost 230,000 hits were recorded to the NWCE web site in February compared with 201,829 in January.
The NWCE revamped the web site to create more features and to make it more navigable for its users.
Any comments about the site and suggestions for further improvement are welcome. Please email Beverley Brooks.
Web Feat
Are you registered as a member of the NWCE website yet? If not please do so as soon as possible - this will amongst other things, let you register for events quickly and simply, with literally one click! The website is one of the main sources of communication for the NWCE, so don't delay! Register by clicking here, and click here for assistance with registering.
Staying Power
There is still time to enter your organisation into this year's North West Business Environment Awards. Categories that are still open include the Sustainable Procurement award which has an emphasis on buying recycled content products and materials.
If your organisation is already pursuing sustainable procurement and buy recycled practices, why not enter? Entry forms, guidance notes and further information can be found here.
National News
Lights... Camera... eAuction!
A new guide to e-auctions has been produced by the Centres of Excellence, which provides up to date information on how local authorities can get the most from e-auctions. Download the guide here.
North West All Stars!
Local government continues to rise to the challenge of the annual Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA), with 79% of single tier and county councils reaching the top two star rating categories, according to the 2006 results published by the Audit Commission on 22 February. Within the North West there are 11 four star authorities. Full details are available on the Audit Commission website at
www.audit-commission.gov.uk/.
White Knight
Councillor Graham Chapman (Nottingham City Council) has written an article about the impact of the Local Government White Paper on councillors.
Download the article here.
Commission is a Bonus for Councillors
Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly has announced a new Commission to look at how local democracy can be made more representative and responsive to local people. Praising the contribution councillors make to grassroots democracy Ruth Kelly said the new Councillors Commission will look at ways to better support councillors and encourage more people from a wider range of backgrounds to play a leading role in their communities. Download more information here.
New Spin on Communities
A Communities of Practice website has been launched, supported by IDeA, for Local Government. A Community of Practice (CoP) is a network of individuals with common problems or interests who together explore ways of working to identify common solutions and share good practice and ideas. Download more information and register on the website here.
DCLG Efficiency News
Please click here to view the 11th edition of DCLG Efficiency News. The newsletter is produced for local authorities and others with an interest in issues around the Efficiency Review.
Have you got a ticket to ride the Improvement Express?
'Improvement Express' is the newsletter from the IDea (Improvement and Development Agency).
Download the February issue here.
EVENTS
NWRF (National Resource and Waste Forum) Conference
7 March 2007, Defra Innovation Centre, Reading
There are still places available for the final conference of the National Resource and Waste Forum (NRWF). The event will look at the most recent work of the NRWF and explore tools and methods for advancing effective waste prevention in the UK.
Further details / booking form can be found by using the links below:
NWRF Conference Invite
NWRF Conference Programme
NWRF Conference Booking Form
For further information click here.
NWeGG Spring Full Members Meeting 8 March 2007, Queens Hotel, Chester
Join the pack at the Queens Hotel in Chester for the NWEGG Spring Full Members Meeting.
NWeGG will be outlining the national picture and the NWEGG programme for 2007-8.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Peter Blair, DCLG, on the National Process Improvement package
- Professor Peter Kawalek, Manchester Business School, on Transformational Thinking
- John Fisher, Chief Executive EverybodyOnline, on getting hard-to-reach groups online
- Phil Swan, NWeGG Programme Manager, on NWeGG's programme for 07-08
Janet Callender, Chief Executive of Tameside MBC and Chair of NWeGG will be chairing the day and speaking on the challenges and opportunities facing councils in light of CSR-07, the LG White Paper and Transformational Government.
For further information visit www.nwegg.org.uk
This event is open to NWeGG member authorities at no charge. The cost for non NWeGG member council attendees will be £100.00.
IT Procurement Workshop 28 March 2007
Woodland Conference Centre, Chorley
The NWCE is holding an IT Procurement Workshop and associated services. This workshop shows you how to get a better deal for your money. For further information or to book your place at the workshop Click here
Benefits - from Fantasy to Reality!
NWeGG - Benefits Realisation Management
A Vehicle for Transformational Change - 17 April 2007
Gerald Bradley, Sigma UK and benefits realisation industry guru, recently spoke at the Project and Programme Managers group and NWeGG was then asked by our members to run a training day on their techniques.
The cost for this training is heavily discounted from the £550 standard industry charge to £260.00 + VAT.
NWeGG can only offer 16 places and have received much interest already so please register early to avoid disappointment. Visit www.nwegg.org.uk for further information or click here to view a flyer containing information on course content.
Due to limited number of places, please be aware that once you have registered your interest to attend you can ask to be removed from the list of registrants for the course up to two calendar weeks before the course is held without charge.
For further information contact Catherine O'Neill at NWeGG.
Bargain Hunt II
The second Bargain Hunt event is now confirmed and will take place on 21 May 2007 in Manchester. The NWCE will show delegates how to share in more than £100m worth of savings on areas such as fuel, consultancy fees and ICT. More details will be added soon but places will be limited so book your place now to avoid disappointment! (Click here to book)