Bid for your '£4,000’
Bargain Hunt ticket

MORE than £24,000 worth of consultancy expertise will be provided free of charge to Bargain Hunt delegates, it has been revealed.
The NWCE has drawn up a catalogue of more than 30 workshops offering free advice on making potential savings of more than £100 million for a range of topics including construction, facilities management, einvoicing, transport and social care.
Delegates have the opportunity to subscribe to five workshops – that’s around £4,000 worth of experts’ time – coupled with the chance to meet and network with the rest of the experts throughout the day.
The day will also include an exclusive ‘Members Only’ event looking at procurement.
Sign up now for  Bargain Hunt on May 21, 2007 by contacting Rahela Parvin on 0161 342 2839, via rahela.parvin@tameside.gov.uk or at http://www.nwce.gov.uk/view_event.php?id=60 .

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 Reebock 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.

Procurement News

Staying Power

Public authorities wishing to implement sustainable procurement now have some support to call on.
The Sustainable Procurement Manual provides clear, simple advice on how to effectively put in place sustainable procurement in a public authority.  Download the manual here.

Procurement Progress

The Spring 2007 edition of the NWCE's procurement newsletter 'Procurement Progress' is now available.   It contains information about new projects such as sustainable procurement and postal services, and a several key events being carried out to promote the work being undertaken.  View the Spring issue of Procurement Progress here.

Framework of the Week - eAuctions

The NWCE's framework of the week highlights key frameworks or agreements councils may wish to use. Want to make a bid for success?  This week's framework of the week can help councils with eAuctions.  View details here.

Health and Social Care News

Narrowing the Gap

A new report from the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted), has found that most local authorities are making a good contribution towards delivering better outcomes for the majority of children and young people.  However, 'Narrowing the gap: the inspection of children’s services' also finds that for a significant minority provision is not good enough and authorities need to do more.  Download the report here.

National News

North West Councils in the Final Frame

Several north west councils have made it to final stages of the Municipal Journal (MJ) Local Government Achievement Awards 2007.

Tameside MBC, Lancashire CC, Salford CC, Blackpool CC, Rossendale BC, Knowsley MBC and Chorley BC are among a clutch of councils up for awards.

From the finalists in each category a winner will be announced at the gala awards evening on June 28 2007 at the Hilton Hotel in London.  The host for the evening is BBC broadcaster Andrew Marr, who will present the awards.

A summary of the north west finalists and their entried can be viewed here .

For further information visit the MJ website - http://www.municipalyearbook.co.uk/index.asp?pageid=370

Events

Postal Project Meeting
April 25 2007
Woodlands Conference Centre, Chorley

The agenda for the next meeting of the postal project should include:

•  An update from Warrington Council on progress to date.
• An update from OGC buying solutions on the latest situation with suppliers.
• A procurement decision on the way forward.

For further information and to confirm attendance please visit  http://www.nwce.gov.uk/view_event.php?id=74

PROCUREMENT POWER,
May 1 2007, Derby
"Cut Costs while Benefitting the Community"

Procurement Power is a national workshop and networking event for heads of service and procurement professionals in the public sector. The workshop is based on practical evidence and hands-on exploration of how public bodies across the UK are delivering efficiency while benefiting the economy and the environment.

The event will feature special sessions on how public bodies in the UK are:

• Saving money while procuring sustainably
• Promoting regeneration through procurement
• Adapting and replicating good practice

The event will be 11am-3pm in Derby, hosted by nef (the new economics foundation), as part of their Local Alchemy programme.

To view the workshop invite, please click here, or to register for the event, please contact Justin Sacks - justin.sacks@k2a.cc or 07753 408 692.

 
Sustainability Starts Here

The first meeting of the NWCE's Sustainable Procurement has been arranged for May 14 2007 at 10am at Wigan Investment Centre.  This meeting will be the first to agree the scope and workplan for the NWCE sustainable procurement programm and a full agenda will be made available shortly.  Click here for event details.

Swap Shop

The dates for the next two corporate and transactional shared services Network Groups are Tuesday May 15 in Sheffield and Thursday May 17 in London.
Run by 4Ps, the Network Group allows participants to meet people with an interest in corporate and transactional shared services and to discuss projects they are working on. It offers a great chance to swap information and receive professional guidance from experts. The agenda and speakers will be confirmed in the joining notes that will be released shortly. For more details, please contact lynsey.whitmarsh@4ps.gov.uk

Get Hammered at Bargain Hunt II

The second Bargain Hunt event is now confirmed and will take place on May 21 2007 at Manchester Conference Centre at Manchester Central (formerly G-MEX).  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 now to avoid disappointment! (Click here to book) or contact Rahela Parvin at the NWCE.