Local Government and Commodity Markets Andrea Tickner Head of Corporate Procurement, Gateshead Council Representing East Regional Centre of Excellence

Regional Centres of Excellence Established in 2004 by the ODPM (as was) 9 centres spread across England each hosted by a Local Authority Remit was initially to build procurement capacity and help authorities to achieve the milestones set out in the National Procurement Strategy. Scope expanded to incorporate the efficiency agenda

Delivering Efficiencies in Local Services The second ODPM publication formally established a Chief Executives Taskforce as the lead change agent at national level for Local Government and the 9 Regional Centres of Excellence as the regional change agents.

Chief Executives Taskforce The Taskforce requested delivery plans for priority work streams, the first of which is concerned with the procurement of Commodities, Goods and Services. The Regional Centres agree to develop a National Commodities, Goods and Services Action Plan.

National Commodities, Goods and Services Action Plan for Local Government Led by Steve Holland from East Centre of Excellence Comprises 5 Strands: –E-Procurement –Market Analysis and Shaping –Commodity Markets –Procurement Landscape –Sustainable Procurement

Strategic Commodity Markets In simple terms this work stream will advise on the priority areas to be looked at nationally and give advice on what would work best in the local government space – i.e. identify the best deal for Local Government. It will also give advice on when to take a national view or when a regional or local approach would work better.

Procurement Action Group Comprising senior and influential procurement professionals from : –Regional Centres of Excellence, –Regional Buying Consortia, –Society of Procurement Officers in Local Government (SOPO).

Role of Procurement Action Group Identify commodities for consideration Identify best existing deals from their regions Review existing deals available to Local Government Research the market Promote better/best deals back to region

Key considerations Collaboration brings about the best results Need to identify which markets do need special treatment and why Need to collaborate with OGC to make best use of the work already completed on commodities Sustainable procurement and the importance of supporting local economies and SMEs is important and will be considered

Commodities identified First Priority Energy ICT and Telecommunications Agency/Temporary Staff Postal Services/Couriers Print Stationery and Office Consumables Second Priority Consultancy Fleet Insurance Adult social care Waste On-line recruitment

Early messages coming from initial findings Appetite and track record for delivering efficiencies and collaborative projects Good news and lessons learned can be shared for the wider benefit Expectation of greater integration between central and local government Whole life costs must be considered Specifications and processes should be standardised The cost of selling to Local Government must be understood Commitment leads to better deals

. Thank you for your time Questions