I&DeA Councillor's Guide 2010/11

07 May 2010

The I&DeA have published a new edition of the 'Councillor's Guide'. It has been revised and updated to reflect the latest legislation and thinking concerning local government in England. It focuses principally on the needs of newly-elected councillors, although more experienced councillors will find it useful too.

The guide explores things new councillors need to know at the start of their careers in public life. It:

- discusses councillors' roles and responsibilities as ward representatives
- explains how councils work and how they are funded
- examines the various checks and balances that regulate councils and councillors
- stresses the importance of community leadership.

 Link to the I&DeA's website for more information.

Midlands highway Alliance - Local Authority Efficiencies Summary 2008-2013

07 May 2010

Strategic Asset Management Guidance

07 May 2010

Since the late 1990s, Asset Management has moved closer to the forefront of local authority corporate planning. The resulting change in emphasis has been widely acknowledged by local government property practitioners and there has been much discussion and guidance issued by professional bodies and groups.

These new guidelines have been commissioned by the EMCE to emphasise the importance of introducing property asset planning and management into the corporate and service planning process in a timely and appropriate manner. As such, this guidance is directed at those engaged in corporate and service planning. The guidance is not intended to provide detailed advice on how to translate asset planning outcomes into action or delivery on the ground - this is understood and varies to suit local circumstances.

The publication fits in with the EMCE's role as national RCE lead on construction and property, whereby the EMCE is concerned with identifying and showcasing examples of successful local authority programmes in housing, general building and highways. In highlighting key characteristics and the efficiencies they are delivering, it is hoped to encourage and inspire others to adopt similar principles to assist in meeting their efficiency targets.

How SMEs can become successful framework contractors

07 May 2010

Local government has made huge strides in procuring and delivering construction projects in recent years. The principles behind Rethinking Construction have been successfully embedded in many projects as local authorities have taken advantage of framework arrangements to bring home projects to a higher standard, in a shorter time and at less cost.

But has this desire to raise standards and deliver efficiencies been at the expense of small and medium sized enterprises? Put simply, are SMEs losing out to the big boys?

As this excellent report highlights, not if local authorities consciously build in strategies for smaller businesses to take advantage of framework arrangements, either directly or via the supply chain.

The report showcases how SMEs can benefit from framework arrangements, with case studies detailing how several local authorities and SMEs have successfully adapted to the changing environment.

Executive Summary [download PDF document]

HELG Local Highways Efficiency Toolkit

07 May 2010

The Highways Efficiency Liaison Group's (HELG) Local Highways Efficiency Toolkit responds to requests for a guide that would take the mystery out of preparing efficiency statements in the local government highways sector.

Royal Mail - Pricing in Proportion

07 May 2010

The items that your authority currently mails are priced according to their weight alone. Royal Mail are changing to a new pricing system called "Pricing in Proportion" that takes into account both the size and weight of an item. The new "Pricing in Proportion (PIP) system was approved by Postcomm, the postal regulator, in 2004, and will come into effect on 21 st August 2006. It will also be possible to change your post supplier from 21st August and you may wish to refer to the ESPO TNT Mail Services Contract if this appeals to your authority.

John King from Newark & Sherwood DC has kindly provided some useful documents in relation to the revised pricing structure.

Additional information is also clearly highlighted on www.royalmail.com.

Royal Mail Mailsort, Walksort & Cleanmail Services [download PDF document]
Royal Mail PIP Price List [download PDF document]
Royal Mail 'the sum of it' [download PDF document]
Royal Mail Cleanmail Brochure [download PDF document]
PiP Ready Reckoner [download Excel document]
ESPO Mail Services Contract No. 341 (TNT Post UK) [download Word document]
Envelope Sizes [download Word document]

How to get a better deal in postal services [download PDF document]

How to get a better deal in print services procurement [download PDF document]

DCA Procurement Guidance

07 May 2010

The Department for Constitutional Affairs recently released this document detailing working assumptions designed to provide you with a guide to how requests for certain kinds of information should be treated within the different phases of procurement processes, and in the period immediately after a contract has been completed.

How to get a better deal in fleet procurement

07 May 2010

Landmark Guidance Issued to Save £100m on Local Government's Annual Temporary Staff Bill

07 May 2010

New national guidance is set to transform the way councils procure temporary staff which could deliver savings of up to £100 million a year on local government's temporary staff bill.
Temporary Staff Press Release [download MS Word document]
Temporary Staff Procurement Toolkit [download PDF document]

How to get a better deal in translation and interpretation services

07 May 2010

Toolkit for Local Transport Highways Efficiency Gains

07 May 2010

The Highways Efficiency Liaison Group of government, local government and industry representatives, has produced a Toolkit to help local highway authorities identify and claim efficiency gains. Advice is offered on cashable efficiency, valuing service improvements for non cashable efficiency gains, and efficiency from use of capital expenditure. A specific inflation figure to be used for highways is quoted, which is different to that for most other services.

LGA Performance Partnership Prospectus

07 May 2010

This prospectus describes the support available from the LGA Performance Partnership to councils engaged in the delivery of efficiency action plans including collaborative projects. It covers the services provided by IDeA, the Employers Organisation and 4ps.

Delivering Value for Money in Local Government: Meeting the challenge of CSR07

07 May 2010

Councils have a long track record of enhancing value for money in public services, with excellent progress made in the 2004 Spending Review (SR04) period. During 2004-05 to 2007-08, councils are forecast to make cash-releasing efficiencies of £3.3 billion, comfortably exceeding Gershon requirements.

The challenge is to build on that progress and further embed a culture of innovation and focus on value for money. The 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR07) takes place in a tight fiscal context. All public services have been set a target of achieving at least 3% net cash-releasing value for money gains per annum over 2008-09 to 2010-11. Councils are expected to achieve £4.9 billion cash-releasing efficiency by 2010-11. This will be challenging, but can be done, provided local and central government fulfil their roles to maximise the potential of local services.

This Value for Money Plan develops themes from the Local Government White Paper and National Improvement and Efficiency Strategy (NIES) to set out a route map for meeting the efficiency challenge, outlining for councils key means to achieve efficiency and support activities designed to promote them.

OGC Guide to Consultancy Pricing

07 May 2010

OGC have produced a guide which discusses the main factors that affect the price paid for consultancy. It aims to provide buyers and users of consultancy with practical help so that they can understand how consultancy is costed, the elements which make up the cost and how to influence the price paid.

Guidance for councils to cut the cost of consultants

07 May 2010

New guidance has been published which is set to transform the way councils procure consultants in a bid to cut local government’s growing consultancy bill.

With funding from the London Centre of Excellence, the guidance has been drawn up jointly by the City of London Corporation and the London Borough of Hounslow and seeks to make a 10% year-on-year efficiency gain on consultancy spending.

How to be successful in procuring consultancy services

07 May 2010

Transforming the Procurement of Temporary, Agency and Interim Staff

07 May 2010

The London Centre of Excellence granted funding to the London Borough of Havering to study the use of agency staff across London local authorities, and to find ways of achieving cashable and non-cashable savings.

This toolkit, one key deliverable of the project, serves as a step-by-step guide to taking control and achieving efficiency savings in your local authority in the realm of agency, temporary and interim staff - from examining spending, to choosing the right system to manage your agency workers and their agencies, to best-practice advice on your organisation's policies and legal risks.

The toolkit lists the pro's and con's of each, with a self-assessment test designed to help you choose the right one for your authority. Cashable savings can be in the region of 3 to 9% before considering the non-cashable savings available from business process re-engineering.

By using this toolkit you can not only achieve savings, but ensure that your authority is up to date with the best-practice policy advice for agency workers, and that your "invisible" work force is no longer hidden from a corporate angle.

How to be successful in e-Auctions

07 May 2010

eProcurement in action: OGC guide to eProcurement for the public sector.

07 May 2010

This report provides information on how central government, local government and strategic private sector partners are introducing and developing eCommerce systems for public sector purchasing. It includes supporting information on standards, security and EU directives, as well as case studies on successful implementations.

How to get a better deal in fuel procurement

07 May 2010