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Tail spend – the challenges and the solution
Crown Commercial Service (CCS) have developed a Tail Spend Solution which helps the public sector to better manage and aggregate ‘tail spend’ – often classified as low volume and low value products which organisations usually buy to meet a specific, short term need, such as stationery for schools. However, tail spend can also refer to misspending that presents risks and inefficiencies to government buyers. This can be categorised as: unusual spending, fragmented spending, maverick spending, and misclassified spending.
It’s estimated that public sector tail spend on goods is currently in excess of £1 billion per year. There is widespread agreement across the sector that it is an under-managed and often overlooked area of spend that is increasingly important for organisations to deal with.
Energy Bills Discount Scheme heat network support – councils and housing associations to apply by 31 March
Domestic customers on heat networks receive support with their heating and hot water bills via the Energy Bills Discount Scheme. It covers usage between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.
All heat suppliers with domestic end consumers are required by law to apply for the scheme and pass on the benefit they receive to their end consumers. The heat supplier is the body responsible for supplying and charging for the supply of heating and/or hot water supplied by the heat network. Councils and housing associations that operate heat networks will need to apply.
The scheme closes on 31 March so if you need to apply and have not yet done so, please apply as soon as possible.
Adult social care
The Public Accounts Committee has published a report on reforming adult social care in England. The report warns that the Government is falling short on addressing the crisis in social care as chronic understaffing, rising waiting lists and patchwork funding place sustained pressure on councils. The LGA supports the Committee’s call for long-term financial support and certainty for social care, a workforce strategy to address staffing shortfalls and a road map for reforms.
Home Office guidance on money-laundering linked financial exploitation
The Home Office have published guidance aimed at frontline professionals and organisations who work with children and adults at risk of financial exploitation. The guidance is intended to enable practitioners to recognise and respond to financial exploitation linked to money laundering so that victims, and potential victims, can get the protection and support they need.
Call for evidence launched into the impact of the Modern Slavery Act 2015
The House of Lords Select Committee on the Modern Slavery Act 2015 was appointed in January and will consider the impact of the Act. The Committee has published a call for written evidence for its inquiry into the impact and effectiveness of the Act. It is inviting interested individuals and organisations to submit their views on these. The Committee have highlighted that they are aware that the Home Affairs Select Committee recently conducted an inquiry into human trafficking and they would be content to receive variants of the evidence previously submitted - deadline: 10am, 27th March.
Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure funding
The Department for Transport announced £185 million of Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funding to 44 councils to support the delivery of chargepoints in England, to help residents charge their vehicles.
To help councils deliver EV infrastructure, the government-funded electric vehicle infrastructure training course will launch in full this week. The course is open to all councils and will cover key topics from technology to procurement. LEVI funding has already helped to place almost 150 EV officers in councils.
Chewing Gum Task Force: Year three grant – open to applications
Councils in the UK able to apply for grant funding to tackle chewing gum litter and staining in high streets and public places, through year three of the Chewing Gum Task Force Grant Fund. Grants of up to £27,500 can fund street cleansing and/or the purchase of cleaning equipment and are supplemented by fully-funded gum litter prevention packages, including targeted behaviour change signage and advice.
The deadline to submit an application is noon on 28 March.
26 March 2024, 10.30am - 2.30pm | 18 Smith Square, Westminster, London & Online
16 April 2024 | Virtual
24 April 2024 | Virtual
16 May 2024 | Liverpool Exhibition Centre
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