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Welcome to the merged NAG/SOPO newsletter for 29 April 2022. Feel free to circulate to your colleagues and/or suggest they sign up to the bulletin themselves. This newsletter is now delivered through our corporate service that handles all our various e-bulletins. Manage or create a subscription - previous bulletins can now be found here.
New LGA Energy Category Strategy – Stakeholder Engagement Workshop 18 May 2022
With the current energy crisis looming, volatile, rising prices, supply chain and geopolitical issues adding increasing financial pressure on council resources, updating our energy procurement guidance couldn’t be timelier.
If you also factor in the key role councils are being asked to play in mitigating climate change, the climate change emergency declarations and our individual local commitments to achieve Net Zero it is essential we produce a forward-thinking piece of guidance that focuses on these major key issues.
The updated strategy will support councils to optimise the way we procure and manage energy in today’s markets and include practical examples, good practice and case studies that focus on key areas such as reducing our energy consumption, using energy efficiently and look at new ways we can increase our own domestic energy security.
ACE Research at the Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE) is working with the LGA to support updating our Energising Procurement Category Strategy. The team will be hosting a virtual workshop Wednesday 18 May 1:30pm – 3:00pm to discuss the content of the strategy and we would love your input to help us inform and shape the guidance so that it is as useful and relevant to councils across the country. If you are interested in attending or would like to be involved in any of the stakeholder development process (there will also be individual interviews and possibly smaller workshops in due course) please contact steph.hacker@theade.co.uk. As ever we appreciate your time and effort to help ensure that these strategies and guidance are developed by the sector, for the sector.
Leisure facilities: swimming pool energy costs
The LGA raised the issue of rising energy bills and the financial implications at a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Swimming. The Minister acknowledged the financial pressures on swimming pool facilities, which have been exacerbated by rising energy costs, and said he is aware that some facilities are closing as a result. He updated that the department is undertaking an audit of leisure facilities, to map their locations and identify ‘cold spots’ with no provision. However, he added that the departments would not “top-up” councils’ expenditure on leisure, if they choose not to prioritise it. The LGA highlighted councils’ significant financial support for leisure facilities throughout the pandemic and the need for further national support for these services, given the acute pressures on local government budgets and the challenges of an ageing leisure estate, which was echoed by representatives from UK Active and Swim England
Local energy
Ofgem has published a call for input into future local energy institutions and governance. The call seeks input from stakeholders, including councils, on energy system functions needed at a local level to facilitate the transition to net zero, the suitability of current and planned institutional and governance arrangements and the opportunities and risks of change. The closing date for submissions is 7 June 2022.
UK Shared Prosperity Fund
Last week, the Government published its prospectus and allocations for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), the domestic replacement for EU funding. This prospectus confirms that the Government has allocated £2.6 billion over three years, with at least £1 million to every lead authority, as well as the allocations for the Multiply Programme. Lead authorities will access their allocation by submitting a local investment plan by 1 August 2022.
We have also developed a UKSPF hub which aims to provide councils with an understanding of the fund, guidance on what councils and combined authorities will need to consider while developing their investment plans, and highlights the LGA's position. If you require further information, please contact Paul.Green@local.gov.uk.
Greening your organisation - A blueprint for a green workforce transformation
The shift to a green economy will create green jobs within new and emerging sectors, while those working in existing sectors will have to gain the requisite green skills to take advantage of business sustainability.
All organisations will be expected to commit and contribute to mitigating and repairing environmental damage. Doing so while remaining economically viable will require different ways of operating from top to bottom, placing new demands on workers at all levels.
The IEMA and Deloitte report paints a picture of an accelerating drive to build this greener workforce across the UK economy. In preparing it, we have developed a succinct set of insights intended to help organisations design their strategic green workforce transformation.
Net Zero Go platform
The Net Zero Go platform was launched in March and offers practical support to councils looking to deliver clean energy targets, for all stages of development, from research and ideas, to building and operating. The platform simplifies the process of building business cases, giving users tools to aid the development of projects, including templates, best practice guidance, checklists, benefits tools and procurement tools. The online tool also offers users the opportunity to see what other councils are doing, comparing and sharing how best to set up clean energy targets
Import controls on EU goods update
Government has announced that the remaining import controls on EU goods will no longer be introduced this year. Instead, traders will continue to move their goods from the European Union to Great Britain as they do now. The government will review how to implement these remaining controls in an improved way. The new Target Operating Model will be based on a better assessment of risk and will utilise data and technology. The model will be published in the Autumn and the new controls regime will come into force at the end of 2023. The controls introduced in January 2021 on the highest risk imports of animals, animal products, plants and plant products will continue to apply alongside the customs controls which have already been introduced.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) portal: how to order COVID-19 PPE
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has updated guidance on how to order COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE). This change is to reflect that the portal used to order PPE has moved to a new platform to better serve eligible providers in accessing COVID-19 related PPE stock, free of charge.
Thursday 12 May 2022, 2.00pm – 3.30pm | Virtual event
This LGA ADASS Care and Health Improvement Programme webinar will focus on how council and partners have been implementing the National Strategy for Autistic People, Children and Young People 2021 to 2026. We’ll hear from Leeds University and Greater Manchester Autism Consortium and from the Department of Health and Social Care about how the strategy is being implemented.
Wednesday 25 May 2022, 9:00am – 5:30pm | In-person
Connecting buyers and suppliers across the UK’s public sector, Procurex National 2022 will provide a wealth of CPD Certified skills development, networking and collaboration opportunities. The interactive product showcase exhibition provides organisations that are actively operating within official frameworks agreements or exploring ways’ to further develop opportunities across the £290bn a year UK public procurement marketplace with a chance to showcase their products and services to leading buyers.
Wednesday 25 May 2022, 9:30am – 5:30pm
Set against the context of the consequences of the Covid pandemic and the unprecedented economic and social challenges faced by communities across the country, this seminar will explore how public bodies can harness the full potential of social enterprises as purpose-aligned partners to the public sector.
Through cases studies, expert commentary and interactive discussions, participants will explore how social enterprises can bring intrinsic social value, agility and innovation, and how they can work with public sector commissioners in relational partnerships at scale to meet the needs of people and communities.
Wednesday 1 June 2022, 1:00pm - 2.00pm | Virtual
Although innovation is widely seen to be vital for the public sector, a key question still stands: how can this innovation be encouraged? The Transport for London (TfL) Innovation Hub offers a space which lies outside the organisation’s conventional ways of working. By inviting peers across the organisation to focus on a problem statement for periods of between 12-18 weeks, the Innovation Hub has offered solutions as to how TfL can capitalise on technological advancements to do things better, cheaper and quicker. This session will focus on an internationally recognised, novel way of working, illuminating the universe of potential for innovation that the public sector wields.
23 and 24 June 2020
The Commissioners’ Conference is the event to share best practice from across commissioning with over 30 workshops focussed on informing & improving commissioning. Learning from colleagues who are doing the job and from cutting edge experts from across Children’s Services. Unique amongst the Annual conferences as it is organised by commissioners for commissioners
The LGA Procurement team manages several LGA webpages dedicated to your needs. Please email guy.head@local.gov.uk if you would like any information added to our webpages:
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