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General News
Award Winners
THE North West Centre of Excellence has received a commendation in the Good Communications Awards.
The awards aim to promote and encourage the public sector’s efforts towards effective communication with its citizens and its workforce.
The NWCE’s entry to the awards focused on the work that had been carried out to promote and inform local authority procurement officers, lead members and chief executives about its new contracts register - The Vault.
The NWCE’s certificate of commendation was awarded under the IT Partnership Award category.
Procurement News
Highlighted event - Estates and Property Services Management Workshop
Places for the above event are going fast - don't miss out. Further details about the day have now been added to the NWCE website - click here to view.
The event will give an overview of frameworks for estates and property management services and outline theor scope and the services available within each, and offer a brief description of local authorities in north west that have used the framework agreements. Information will also be given about guidance and case studies available.
For further details about the event and to reserve a place click here now.
Where does the money go?
The NWCE and NWIN's project looking at how third party spend is managed has issued its first newsletter, which includes an overwiew of the project and highlights what information has emerged so far.
To view the newsletter click here.
Framework of the Week - IT Great Deals
The NWCE's framework of the week highlights key frameworks or agreements councils can use. You can save with IT! This week's agreement offers councils to great deals when buying IT hardware and cutting edge technology.
Click here for further information.
National News
Shared Services on TV
In this latest programme by Localgovtv Sue Reid, Head of the Modernisation and Efficiency Division at the Department of Communities and Local Government, discusses in a one-to-one interview the progress Local Authorities and public sector bodies are making towards sharing their services. To view the programme click here.
Developing the Local Government Services Market
Communities and Local Government (CLG) have published four (of 11) working papers on specific sectors of the market. These are neighbourhood and streetscene services, leisure services, shared services and technology and transformational services. The papers are available as downloads from the CLG website. The remaining papers (waste management, local transport, planning and regulatory services, local authority syndication and trading, and potential of the third sector) will be published in the coming months.
WRATE Life Cycle Analysis
Waste practitioners may be aware that the Environment Agency recently released the WRATE Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) tool for Waste Management. WRATE allows the environmental impacts of alternative waste management systems to be compared and has received support from CIWM (May 2007 Journal) and Defra (Review of England’s Waste Strategy). The report can be viewed here, and an explanatory note here.
Audit Commission's helping hand
In 2009 comprehensive area assessment will take over from the comprehensive performance assessment of local government. The Audit Commission have published a document which provides a starting point for widespread consultation about the transition over the coming months. Available to download from their website at: http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/
Tomorrow's Workforce
The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) wants your views on future priorities for sector-wide or national action on shared workforce challenges. Local authorities can help shape the development of the workforce aspects of the new National Improvement Strategy. Read 'Delivering through people: big challenges, big questions' and email or post your response in the talent management community of practice. For further information click here.
Housing Help
The IDeA has published the first in a series of five practice guides on strategic housing. 'Community leadership and the strategic housing role in local government' is an introduction to strategic housing, citing best practice and challenges across the sector. For more information click here.
Read all about it
The Centre for Procurement Performance have published their latest Newsletter covering issues from sustainable food procurement for schools, building sustainable schools, IT procurement and safety of vehicles. Available from their website : http://www.dfes.gov.uk/
Events
Free Energy Management Workshops from the Carbon Trust
throughout June 2007
Throughout June 2007 the Carbon Trust is holding free energy management workshops around the country.
Delegates will learn how to analyse energy bills; raise awareness on energy efficiency; explore the simple no cost and low cost steps to reduce energy spend; learn how to monitor energy consumption; analyse various metering and monitoring techniques to interpret energy use and identify how to report on and maintaining energy saving initiatives.
For further details on these events click here.
What's in it For Us?
June 19 2007
The first shared services stakeholders' meeting takes place on June 19 2007 at Preston Red Rose Hub. These events will be held every three months to provide an update on progress made by the NWCE and NWEGG shared services programme, to introduce specific tools that can assist with shared services and to share the experiences of colleagues who have been through the process.
The agenda includes a whirlwind tour of ICT shared services - Alan Cook of Cumbria CC will take attendees on a whistle-stop tour of places that they should visit and places to avoid should they wish to embark on a similar journey.
For further information click here.
Equality and Diversity Framework for Procurement event
June 25 2007, Huyton Suite, Knowsley
A joint conference will take place at the end of June to look at the topical issue of the LGA Equality Standards. The event on June 25 at Knowsley, will examine the development of procedures for equality and diversity within procurement. It will also reveal what’s involved in the pre-qualification toolkit that councils need to use to ensure contractors and partners are implementing equal opportunities within service delivery and employment.
For further information about the event and to book your place click here.
FREE tickets!
The Challenge of the Games - A Sustainable 2012?
June 26 2007
The NWCE has four free tickets available for this event, which will look at ensuring a sustainable approach to the Olympic Games in London's in 2012. The aim is that the games be remembered not only as a fantastic sporting event, but also as the greenest games to date!
This event will discuss some of the crucial issues for the UK to address if it is to host the first truly sustainable Olympic Games, whilst retaining the maximum cultural and economic benefits.
Topics discussed on the day will include sustainable procurement principles; sustainable construction; effective partnership working; information exchange with previous hosts - learning the lessons of the past; the role of business in realising the 2012 vision.
For further information click here and if you are interested in one of the free tickets contact us as soon as possible.
BeGIN to be Green
June 27 2007
The north west’s green procurement event, ‘BeGIN 2007 is coming to Haydock Park Racecourse, St Helens on June 27 2007.
A product and service showcase and seminar forum in one, the event is relevant to SMEs, large organisations and the public sector.
Consisting of a free exhibition, open between 9am - 4pm, alongside seminars, the event will show how buying recycled content and more sustainable products and services can help your organisation to improve its corporate image, win contracts, meet environmental standards and targets and save money.
Key note speakers include nationally recognised specialist on sustainable procurement, Shaun McCarthy – Chair of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 and Director of Action Sustainability and industry experts from the Centre for Construction Innovation, Envirolink Northwest, North West Regional Assembly, James McNaughton Paper Group and Environment Connect.
For further details click here or email l.mcgeechan@envirolinknorthwest.co.uk.
On with the Showcase!
June 28 2007
THE NWCE and seven of its partners are joining forces for a major event at the end of June.
The Local Governance Showcase will take place on June 28, 2007 at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton and will focus on a comprehensive range of topics including efficiency and procurement, public service reform, performance management; collaborative delivery; service transformation and partnership working.
The event will be delivered by the centre, along with North West Improvement Network (NWIN), the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA), the Government Office North West (GONW), the Centre for Local Governance (CFLG), the North West Employers Organisation (NWEO), RENEW NW and the North West eGovernment Group (NWeGG).
The event is aimed at a host of local authority representatives – from leading elected members and chief executives to efficiency practitioners and business improvement managers.
For more information about the showcase and its special features, click here.
BREW (Business Resource Efficiency & Waste) Event
Northwest Regional Networking Event - Resource Management
June 28 2007
The BREW Centre is holding a workshop designed to educate, support and inspire Local Authority Officers to work with their business communities and develop resource management strategies in line with the new waste strategy.
Delegates can find out what is currently happening in the north west to support businesses to become resource efficient; hear from trailblazer authorities who are leading the way in their region this year; meet regional representatives from BREW partners and find out about the support they can provide to aithorities; receive guidance on how authorities can develop resource management strategies; network with other local authority officers from planning, waste, economic development, strategic policy and sustainable development.
Further information about this even can be found here.
Negotiation Skills
July 2 2007
A one-day Negotiation Skills programme is being held on July 2 2007 at Manchester Youth Hostel. This programme will cover a wide range of the skills, tools and tactics needed for effective negotiation, through real example and by encouraging delegates to qurstion their approaches to negotiation. The overall objective is to motivate participants that there are opportunities to practice effective negotiation and to deliver positive benefits for all parties. The tutor will be Dr Brian Farrington, an experienced negotiator in the public sector who has represented central government departments and local authorities in their negotiations with a wide variety of suppliers and contractors.
Don’t miss out. For further information and to book your place click here.
New Municipal Waste Technologies Events
July 10 2007
The Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (LATS) gives councils a real incentive to meet increasingly challenging landfill directive targets and avoid paying for extra LATS allowances. Significant investment is now needed in new waste treatment facilities to increase waste diversion from landfill and for new technologies and facilities.
This event, taking place at the Maritime Museum, Liverpool, is aimed at local authority waste management professionals, as well as waste management companies and providers of associated technologies and services. It will provide an opportunity to network with a range of experts, funders and researchers in what is a rapidly expanding field.
The event is free to attend and as well as a range of expert presentations will feature an exhibition of the region’s leading suppliers of waste and recycling technology and services.
For further information click here.
Estates and Property Services Management Workshop
July 19 2007
As part of the NWCE procurement programme an Estates and Property Services Management workshop is being held. Click here for further infornation and to book a place.