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 Dear Colleague,
Welcome to this week's edition of the NWCE weekly news. Our weekly newsletters are also available via our website. Click here to access.
We want to hear good news stories and lessons learned from around the region for inclusion in our news updates relating to improving efficiency or partnerships/collaborations. If you have news you want to include in our update, please contact Beverley Brooks.
Kind regards,
North West Centre of Excellence
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 Consultancy Frameworks Workshop
September 14, 2007 Woodlands Conference Centre, Chorley
The spotlight will be placed on the use of consultants at a workshop to be held in Chorley in September.
The NWCE and NWeGG are hosting the event that will expand on project work which has been carried out examining the use of consultants in the north west region.
Two potential frameworks have been identified as a result of the work – one for the procurement of training courses for Prince2 and one for business and IT consultancy/management.
Procurement managers who are likely to be involved in the sourcing of consultants would find the event particularly useful and are urged to attend.
As well as expanding on the project work to date, the event is also being used to evaluate the next course of action for the project.
To book a place on the course, click here
http://www.nwce.gov.uk/view_event.php?id=111
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 Carbon roll call
THE roster of north west councils who have signed up to the NWCE’s carbon emissions project has risen to 13.
The local authorities who will be taking part in the project, so far, are South Ribble DC, Preston City Council, Greater Manchester Fire Service, Pendle DC, Chester City Council, Tameside MBC, Liverpool City Council, Wigan MBC, St Helens MBC, Oldham MBC, Bury MBC, Salford City Council and Lancashire City Council.
The carbon budget and trading scheme will look at measuring and monitoring carbon emissions, carbon pricing, budget management and trading, and carbon emission reduction. The first meeting of the new group is due to take place in September.
The aim of the project is for councils to benefit from opportunities provided by new legislation that allocates set amounts of carbon emission ‘stock’ to businesses and public organisations. Those organisations under-utilising their carbon emission allocation can sell their excess carbon ‘stock’ to those organisations requiring more than their allowance.
 Stick with it
THE centre’s new sustainable procurement programme has now set up a number of free events to promote the importance of sustainable procurement and to increase skills within the sector.
The NWCE is working with Action Sustainability to deliver one-day training courses that will take place on November 13 and January 29 and will enable delegates to identify and manage the sustainability impacts of their supply chains.
The courses are being offered free to local authority delegates, if accompanied by a key supplier.
In addition, a Meet the Buyer event on November 21 will provide delegates with the opportunity to meet suppliers who can provide innovative environmental and sustainable products and services.
To book a place on November 13 click here
To book a place on January 29 click here
For details about the Meet The Buyer event click here and, to book, contact Kavita@actionsustainability.com on 020 7700 0008.
 Quick hits
THE NWCE has produced a quick-fire guide called ‘NWCE Quick’ outlining the projects carried out by the centre and its partner local authorities during 2006-07 and what is planned for 2007-08.
To read NWCE Quick in full, click here.
 Focus on a Framework - Display Energy Certificates
The NWCE's 'focus on a framework' highlights key frameworks or agreements councils can use.
Looking for an energetic way to make savings? This week's offer can help councils to prepare for the delivery of Display Energy Certificates (DEC), which need to be exhibited by April 2008.
Public sector buildings that do not display a valid DEC and valid advisory reports of recommended energy saving measures will be charged hefty fines of up to £1,000.
TEAM offers an easy route to avoiding unnecessary fines and penalties, improving efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions. A series of workshops will take place during September presenting solutions, details of which can be found here.
For further information about this offer click here.
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 What a good IDeA!
Read IDeA's 2006/7 annual report to find out how they provide subsidised and free support to councils. A summary is also available which tells how the IDeA delivered 5,000 days of support to 286 councils and other organisations.
Download the report from this link.
 It's good to talk
A Communities and Local Government discussion forum has been created, where members can contribute their views on current policy and emerging issues. To register and take part in the forum, click here.
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 P-Cards: what next?
September 20 2007, Wigan Investment Centre
This session is aimed at those with procurement card projects underway and those still planning to implement them.
The event will examine case studies from Lancashire CC and Preston CC. It will bring together latest thinking from OGC.buying.solutions and Barclays with local authority case studies. The full agenda for the event is now available and can be viewed here.
For further information and/or to book a place click here.
 Sustainable Procurement Meeting
September 28 2007, Stockport council offices
The next sustainable procurement meeting has been arranged. This will give an update on regional and national work and an outline plan for implementing the flexible framework. The meeting will also discuss the possibilty of carrying out a regional risk assessment on one category - possibly staff uniforms.
For further information or to book a place at the meeting click here.
 The 3rd Annual NWeGG Conference - New Frontiers for Transformation
December 12 2007, Manchester Central
This event will focus on the future for the transformation agenda - a key factor in the Government's plans to reform the public sector.
Delegates will hear from the government on its latest strategy to modernise public services through Transformational Change, understand the need to be customer focused, examine the key role that technology can play in redesigning services for the benefit of both citizens and government alike and network to share best practice and seek answers to the challenges councils face.
There will be six seminars designed to deal with different aspects of delivering effective change in local government.
For further information click here.
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