The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) agreed with the Government to operate a Joint Improvement Partnership (JIP) in each region to support improvement in adult social care. Each region has a JIP programme led by directors of adult social services and a national Joint Improvement Programme Board monitors delivery of the regional programmes.

In January 2007, London Borough of Lewisham implemented a managed service for the management of temporary agency workers. This case study looks at the successful contract management mechanisms which have enabled the rationalisation of agency spend and generation of efficiency savings.

When Charnwood Borough Council's environmental services contract was coming to an end it was felt that it was time for the contract to be updated and the market tested. Through a review and subsequent tendering process a new contractor was awarded which aims to save £2.4 million in its first two years of existence.

The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has been working with energy and procurement professionals across public sector organisations since July 2007 to help them to Buy Smarter and use less energy through setting up the Pan Government Energy Project (PGEP). Following this work, it has been proven that organisations increase savings and mitigate risks through adopting an aggregated, flexible, risk managed approach to all energy procurement.

The public sector currently spend around £3.8 billion per annum on Electricity and Gas - which equates to approximately 7% of UK total consumption!

Currently 66% of all public sector volumes are being procured through a Pan Government recommended solution. Early findings for the project identified the following:

• 250 OJEUs for energy contracts were issued by public sector organisations within a two year period;
• No common Terms and Conditions;
• No common requirements;
• Multiple channels to a few major suppliers;
• 50% public spend not-aggregated.