Anaerobic Digestion Framework

22 Dec 2010

Anaerobic Digestion Framework - read the draft plan from Government on how it intends to increase the use of energy from waste through anaerobic digestion in England

Take part in WIN's quick fuel price survey

22 Dec 2010

Take part in WIN's quick fuel price survey - research has shown authorities pay a wide range of prices for their fuel; help us to understand the market so that you can benefit.

Members' Bulletin - December 2010

22 Dec 2010

Cabinet Office Launch Efficiency & Reform Group Web

21 Dec 2010

The Cabinet Office are determined to deliver a better deal for taxpayers and ensure that resources are targeted sharply at front-line services. Savings achieved in lower priority areas will help departments live within tight budgets agreed at the Spending Review.

To deliver these savings, a step change is needed to ensure that real, cashable efficiencies are secured. Adopting a new approach of unprecedented ambition that enables us to:

- change the culture of government procurement and spending
- remove central targets that have burdened front-line services in the past
- take specific action in a wide range of areas (for example by centrally renegotiating major contracts) 

Visit the Cabinet Office's new Government Efficiency web pages to find out more:  

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/government-efficiency

Procurement & Efficiency Bulletin - December 2010

17 Dec 2010

Procurement & Efficiency Bulletin (Dec 2010) Out Now!

17 Dec 2010

Read our latest Procurement & Efficiency Bulltin containing news and publications about:

EM IEP TV Film
- Procurement Lincolnshire P-Card

Case Studies
- Waste Collection in Rushcliffe
- Waste Collection in North Kesteven
- Waste Collection in Erewash

News
- Save Money & Energy with Automated Meter Reading
- Buying Solutions e-Auctions
- Concerned about the way the EU Procurement Directives Work?
- Equal Treatment for Agency Workers
- South West Councils Insurance Framework
- Buying Solutions Forthcoming e-Auctions Calendar
- LGA Productivity Opportunities Website
- WINK Issue 45 latest news on WIN!
- CIPFA Value for Money Toolkit - Out Now!
- Efficiency Challenge - Waste Project Update

Latest Publications
- Efficient working - Daventry District Council moves to four day week waste collections and saves £250k/annum! and tips on how to move to a four day week

Go to: http://www.eastmidlandsiep.gov.uk/newsletters/1/filter/date/nl/ 

The Wrapper - Issue 4

17 Dec 2010

The Wrapper - Issue 3

17 Dec 2010

Buying Solutions e-Auctions

16 Dec 2010

A recent Buying Solutions e-Auction for Office Supplies saved seven Merseyside councils over £3.5 million, equal to a 42% saving on the pre-auction value. The next few months will see eAuctions take place for a range of commonly procured goods and commodities including:

- Paper
- Office Supplies
- Multi Functional Devices (MFDs)
- Print

Aggregating your requirements with other public sector organisations, will help you realise major savings. These e-Auctions are fully managed and funded by Buying Solutions,

If you are interested in getting involved in an eAuctions simply go to:
http://www.buyingsolutions.gov.uk/questionnaire/aggregated  

For the calendar of events go to:
http://www.buyingsolutions.gov.uk/categories/eCommerce/eAuctions/aggregated/calendarofevents/  
http://www.buyingsolutions.gov.uk/categories/eCommerce/eAuctions/aggregated/calendarofevents

Save Money & Energy with Automated Meter Reading

16 Dec 2010

Automated Meter Reading provides in-depth information on your organisation's energy consumption, helping you to reduce your utility costs and carbon emissions.

Organisations typically save around 10% on their energy costs by implementing Automated Meter Reading (AMR). Adopting the service eliminates the need for estimated billing which can lead to errors and over charging. AMR also provides essential data to help reduce waste energy and CO2 emissions and helps address regulation and sustainability issues.

You can access AMR in two ways through Buying Solutions: either as an existing energy customer via additional services from your current energy supplier (this route does not require a separate procurement exercise), or through the AMR framework agreement. This framework agreement contains five Lots giving comprehensive access to different solutions provided by seven suppliers: British Gas Business, IM Serv Europe Ltd, Logica UK Ltd, Schneider Electric, Siemens Metering Services, Stark Software International Ltd and Total Gas and Power Ltd.

Since its launch 12 months ago, £14 million worth of services have been procured through the framework agreement. To learn more about reducing your energy costs, visit http://www.buyingsolutions.gov.uk/categories/Utilities/AutomaticMeterReading/  

Concerned about the way the EU Procurement Directives Work?

13 Dec 2010

The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) have launched a consultation process to review EU Procurement Directives. For more information and how to respond and make suggestions see Procurement Policy Note 21/10.

Equal Treatment for Agency Workers

13 Dec 2010

The Government announced on 19th October 2010 that the Agency Workers Regulations 2010 will be implemented as drafted.

Draft guidance on the Regulations is expected early next year, and further details on the Regulations and their implementation are on the LG Employers website CIPD have also produced a guide which you may find helpful.

Shared Services Survey

09 Dec 2010

Our colleagues at Improvement East are carrying out a short survey about shared services.

We are all aware of a growing number of shared services in use in local authorities and Improvement East would be very grateful if you could spare 10 minutes to help them to understand the thinking in authorities.

This will deliver an important study of the benefits, barriers and critical success factors for shared services development; which will help the partnership and support agencies to respond appropriately.

There is a free Champagne prize draw to enter when you complete the survey!

Please note the survey will close on 24th December.

Click here to take survey on shared services.

South West Councils Insurance Framework

09 Dec 2010

Our colleagues at South West Councils have kindly made their Insurance Framework available to authorities in the East Midlands.

South West Improvement and Efficiency Partnership are proposing to establish a consortium framework for District Councils, Non-Metropolitan Borough Councils and National Park Authorities and associated and subsidiary organisations in order to procure insurance cover. It is the intention to make the framework available to others provided that such other authorities agree to be bound by this Framework Users Agreement and the Consortium Framework rules.

Download the Insurance Framework by visiting our Procurement Hub. (scroll down to 'Insurance').

Please note: in order to gain access to our Procurement Hub you must register with a '.gov' email address.

Buying Solutions Forthcoming e-Auctions Calendar

09 Dec 2010

Buying Solutions have now helped over 120 organisations save over £19 million against a pre-auction spend value of £73.6 million. Average savings being achieved for organisations are 26.5%, with some categories as high as 41%.

Over the past month they have saved:

- Almost £1 million for four NHS Trusts on mobile phones.
- Over £9 million on office supplies for more than 40 organisations across central government, health and local authorities.

View their latest calendar of events to see the wide range of forthcoming eAuctions across the following categories including:

- Mobiles
- Landlines
- Refrigeration
- IT hardware
- Paper
- Multi Functional Devices
- Office supplies
- Vehicles (hire, lease and purchase)
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Furniture
- Carbon offsetting
- Learning & development

If you are interested in getting involved in any of the Buying Solutions fully managed and funded eAuctions, simply express your interest by completing the online form.

For more information about the Buying Solutions aggregated eAuction programme, please contact the Customer Service Desk on 0845 000 0286 or email eauctions@buyingsolutions.gsi.gov.uk

LGA Productivity Opportunities Website

07 Dec 2010

Opportunities for improved productivity - has your council considered them all?

Improving productivity in the main business areas, accounting for 95 per cent of council business, is central to helping councils meet the challenges of less funding. This library of ‘productivity opportunities' offers a wealth of ideas. Many of them are not new in themselves. What is new is packaging them alongside each other to challenge how far councils are going in their pursuit and demonstration of productivity in their localities.

These 'opportunities', arranged by the following five categories, demonstrate the sector collectively driving its own productivity.

1. Adults and health
2. Children's services
3. Corporate
4. Environment and culture
5. Housing and economy

The website demonstrates the sector collectively driving its own productivity. Visit it at:

EM IEP Newsletter - Nov/Dec 2010

06 Dec 2010

NEW Detailed Good Practice Case Study: Delivering high performing services at low cost: waste collection in Erewash

06 Dec 2010

Erewash Borough Council’s waste collection service provides good value for money. The service performs well; recycling rates are above average compared to other authorities nationally and the amount of waste sent to landfill is lower than average, yet the cost of the service per household is low. This case study explores what drives this value for money position, with a focus on particular initiatives or ways of working that have enabled the service to maintain its good performance and low costs.

Erewash’s spend on waste collection per household is one of the lowest in the East Midlands and their performance (in terms of recycling a large proportion of their waste and minimising overall levels of waste produced by households) is above average compared to other councils nationally. The authority has worked on improving their recycling performance in recent years, whilst also ensuring that the service is as efficient as possible.

The council manages to achieve above average performance ratings at a low cost per household by:
• Developing a culture of continuous improvement, for example conducting a route optimisation review, working to expand the range of recyclable materials collected and adapting operations to match demand.
• Driving out costs, for example by maximising staff productivity, moving customer contact into the customer services function, refurbishing vehicles to extend their useful life and reducing agency spend during off-peak periods.
• Maximising income from recycling credits and operating a profitable trade waste service.

Erewash performance: key facts
Residual household waste per household 535 kgs
Percentage of household waste sent for reuse, recycling and composting 41.9%
Satisfaction with council-provided refuse collection 69.2%
Satisfaction with council-provided doorstep recycling 68.2%
Waste collection cost per householdv £40.54

Click HERE to access the full case study

NEW Detailed Good Practice Case Study : Delivering high performing services at low cost: waste collection in Rushcliffe

06 Dec 2010

Rushcliffe Borough Council’s waste collection service provides good value for money. The service performs well: recycling rates are amongst the highest in the country, the amount of waste sent to landfill is low and resident satisfaction with the service is high, yet the cost of the service per household is fairly low. This case study explores what drives this value for money position, with a focus on particular initiatives or ways of working that have enabled the service to improve performance and keep costs down.

Rushcliffe’s waste collection service performs very well and the council aims to provide an exceptional service on a modest budget. Year on year the council improves its recycling rates and further minimises the overall levels of waste produced by households. The authority has maintained and improved this high level of performance over several years, but manages to keep unit costs comparatively low.

The council manages to provide a value for money service by: •
• Matching operations to the needs of local area, for example the three wheeled bin system for residual, garden and recycling waste, implementing alternate weekly collections, ensuring flexibility with crew sizes and reducing garden waste rounds in winter. •
• Getting the best from their staff, for example by investing in their development and agreeing mutually convenient terms under the new working agreement. •
• Focusing on the customer, for example using education and prevention activities to improve performance levels, investing in customer service and using real-time reporting technology to provide a responsive service

Rushcliffe performance: key facts
Residual household waste per household 455 kgs
Percentage of household waste sent for reuse, recycling and composting 52.9%
Satisfaction with council-provided refuse collection 84.3%
Satisfaction with council-provided doorstep recycling 75.3%
Waste collection cost per household £52.93

Click HERE to access the full case study.

Read Our Latest Newsletter...

06 Dec 2010

Read our EM IEP November/December newsletter to find out what's been happening in the world of improvement and efficiency around the East Midlands!

In this bumper issue read about:

News
- Care Funding Calculator forecast £4.5m savings
- East Midlands Local Authority Apprenticeship Agency (EMLAAA)
- DECATS: 'Transforms' Derby City Council with Planned Net Savings of £19.2 Million in 3 Years
- Positive Change: A 'Systems Thinking' Approach to Customer-Focused Improvements
- Waste Not, Want Not: Nottinghamshire councils Save over £1.75 million
- Mansfield Housing Needs Staff: Big Society Pathfinders
- New Government Proposals for Health and Wellbeing
- Leading Lights Events
- Derby's Market Hall benefits from EMPA framework
- Highways Partnership Scoops Top Awards
- Local Environmental Quality Project - Useful documents and update
- When Resources are Scarce...
- Creating a Legacy for the ‘Big Society'
- Efficiency Challenge - Waste Project Update
- EM IEP Contracts Database Live!
- West Midlands Procurement Framework for Jobs and Skills
- IDeA Offer to Councils on Budget Challenge
- East Midlands Region Safeguarding Adults Development Day
- Lincoln City Apprenticeship Scheme: Finalist at National Training Awards 2010
- Winners Announced - EMCBE Constructing Excellence Awards
- MHA Launches First Highways Training Academy

Events
- The Opportunities and Challenges of the Public Health White Paper - 09 Feb 2011

Publications
- Healthy Lives, Healthy People: White Paper
- EM IEP's new 'Customer Insight in Action' brochure 

Read the newsletter at: http://www.eastmidlandsiep.gov.uk/newsletter/newsletter.php?id=27