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Connected Places Catapult / Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre (IPEC) – fully funded procurement support offer for local authorities
Connected Places Catapult is looking for up to five local authorities to join the 2024/25 Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre (IPEC) cohort. Five local authorities will receive fully funded and tailored innovation procurement support, as well as peer-to-peer learning. They will help you raise you and your colleagues’ confidence and abilities while being by your side throughout one of your live end-to-end procurement processes. If you have a desire to procure innovation, resources or sponsorship to speed up a culture shift in your council, and have a buying budget to address an innovation challenge, you can apply to joing the 2024/25 IPEC cohort.
Local Government AI Network
The second meeting of the Local Government AI Network will take place on Friday 15 December from 11.00am to 12.30pm. We’ll be joined by speakers from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), and the Information Commissioners Office who will be providing an overview of AI, the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), and data protection law; and signposting councils to practical support and guidance. In addition, the EHRC is leading a working group to develop standards and questions to support local authorities in compliance with PSED and data protection law in the commissioning and procurement of AI technologies. We will be facilitating a discussion to understand the challenges councils face and to identify support needs. If you would like to attend, please email grace.perks@local.gov.uk
Funding for businesses to help decarbonise local transport
The Department for Transport (DfT) has launched £2 million of funding to encourage councils and businesses to work together to develop and trial transport schemes that cut emissions in the long term. The Transport Decarbonisation Demonstrators programme is funded by DfT, and UK registered businesses can apply for up to £500,000 to work with councils to tackle local transport challenges. Businesses can apply to the Transport Decarbonisation programme online from 27 November until 8 January 2024. Councils are encouraged to share this information with businesses as appropriate.
Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.2 is open for applications
Wave 2.2 of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund opened for applications on 20 November. Wave 2.2 will allocate up to £80 million to eligible social housing landlords, including local authorities, and will remain open for applications until 19 January 2024.
How your buying decisions have the power to help put an end to modern slavery (Crown Commercial Service Procurement Essentials)
Crown Commercial Service continues its 'Procurement Essentials' series with information and resources on How your buying decisions have the power to help put an end to modern slavery. Within the UK public sector supply network there are tens of thousands of suppliers, many of whom have complex global supply chains, making effective oversight difficult to achieve, especially in the lower tiers of subcontracting. But, with gross spending on public sector procurement totalling £379 billion in 2021/22 across the UK, the public sector can use its extensive buying power to help mitigate the risks of modern slavery occurring in its supply chain.
One last reminder that we have published the presentations and resources from our event on 'Modern slavery risk assessment and due diligence guidelines for adult social care' including the Modern slavery risk assessment and due diligence guidelines for adult social care resources pack. This event covered modern slavery in supply chains and saw the launch of the new Establishing modern slavery risk assessment and due diligence in adult social care – a commissioning officer’s guide.
Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) resources
Figures from the Public Accounts Committee figures suggest that 700,000 pupils are learning in classrooms that need a major rebuild or refurbishment. The committee warned that an increase in schools needing support with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has diverted funding away from other schools in need of help. For more information, you can access guidance for education settings impacted by RAAC and a list of schools affected by RAAC, Q&A, and what you need to know about the new guidance is available on the Department for Education's Education Hub.
Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing guidance updated
The Department for Transport (DFT) is encouraging councils to act on updated guidance on taxi and private hire vehicle licensing to help improve the accessibility of taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs), which are regulated by local licensing authorities. The Government is reminding councils that they should take action against drivers who discriminate against people with disabilities and guide dog owners, by issuing fines and suspending licences where required. In addition, councils should incentivise the uptake of wheelchair-accessible vehicles and ensure they can be used easily and safely by passengers.
Asset finance customer webinar (Crown Commercial Service webinar)
Tuesday 28 November, 11.00am–12.00pm | Online
National Children and Adult Services Conference
Wednesday 29 November–Friday 1 December | Bournemouth International Centre, Exeter Road, Bournemouth BH2 5BH
iNetwork Annual Conference
Thursday 30 November | Hyatt Regency Manchester, 55 Booth Street West, Manchester M15 6PQ and online
Power-up your procurement (Social Value Portal webinar)
Thursday 30 November, 2.00pm–3.00pm | Online
Digitalisation training weekender event for councillors (an LGA 'Leadership Essentials' event)
Saturday 2 December–Sunday 3 December | Crowne Plaza Leeds, Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL
Transforming Public Procurement: how we’re preparing for the new regulations (Crown Commercial Service webinars)
Monday 4 December, 11.00am–12.00pm | Online
Thursday 7 December, 2.30pm–3.30pm | Online
Wednesday 13 December, 10.00am–12.00pm | Online
Local Government AI Network meeting
Friday 15 December, 11.00am–12.30pm | Virtual meeting
To attend, email grace.perks@local.gov.uk
first is the LGA's membership magazine, distributed to around 16,700 councillors and local authority chief executives in England and Wales. Councillors and officers can sign up for the first e-bulletin using their council email addresses and/or access first online to browse LGA news stories, features, good practice case studies and comment pieces, including those from past issues.
For editorial inquiries, please email karen.thornton@local.gov.uk. For advertising, contact Polena Boutwood, Media Sales Executive at polena.boutwood@cplone.co.uk or on 01223 378047.
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