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Dynamic Procurement Systems
We know councils have used Dynamic Procurement Systems (DPS) extensively for low value procurements such as home to school taxi contracts. Following up from last week's piece we know many councils have expressed concern about below threshold call-offs under the new legislation which goes live on 28 October 2024. Cabinet Office are aware of this and we are working through the issues and potential options with them on this. Councils are reminded that, provided there are no restrictions in the DPS on dates, the current DPS’s will remain active in the transition period, i.e., until October 2028.
LGA Annual Construction Conference, London 8 October 2024: Cancelled
After the very successful 11th Annual Construction Conference in Leeds on 8 May 2024, the conference was scheduled to be repeated on 8 October 2024 in London.
Due to the General Election in July and clashes with other LGA events, it has been decided to cancel the Conference in October and instead, repeat a number of the sessions from the Leeds Conference as webinars in the Autumn 2024. Further details and dates to be announced over the coming months.
The 12th Annual Construction Conference is scheduled to take place 12 February 2025, Smith Square, London, and later in the year in the north of the country (venue and date to be confirmed).
We hope you can join us at one of the webinars in the Autumn.
Call for information: Crown Commercial Service Survey for public sector aggregated M365 Copilot requirement
As part of the Strategic Partnership Agreement deal, Crown Commercial Service (CCS) are looking to negotiate the best possible discount and are exploring unlocking a ramp deal for all UKPS based on the aggregated demand across the public sector M365 Copilot across its entire estate before 1st November. They want to ensure that any purchases before 1 November also benefit from this discount.
If your organisation has a requirement to procure M365 Copilot licences before 1 November, or within the next eight months, please complete the form. It has been designed to capture organisation requirements for procuring new M365 Copilot licences before 1 November, or within the next eight months. This will not be a binding commitment, but CCS needs to understand the scope of interest.
CAPE - Rapid Evidence Assessments: A guide for commissioners, funders, and policymakers
Do you face an urgent policy decision - perhaps where to allocate resources, develop a business case, or scrutinise a new government policy - and need a swift overview of research to bolster confidence in your decision? You need that summary of evidence fast - and gathered in a way you can trust.
This guidance takes you through everything you need to know about how to commission a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) that meets your needs. This is not intended as a technical how-to guide aimed at researchers but aims to help you as a commissioner. The guide is intended to give you a feel for the entire review process, to inform your tender document, and help you ask searching questions of the review teams, to create a final review that balance between rapidity and rigour.
Evaluating the strengthened biodiversity duty for public authorities
Defra and Eunomia Consulting are keen to collect views on the strengthened biodiversity duty for public authorities, including local authorities. The aim of the survey is to understand perceptions of the Biodiversity Duty and experiences in implementing the duty to date. The online survey closes on 9 September, contact Rolands.sadauskis@eunomia.co.uk if you have any queries.
International recruitment toolkit for social care
The Department of Health and Social Care in collaboration with the Home Office published a help sheet to assist adult social care providers applying for a Certificate of Sponsorship to sponsor care workers overseas on the health and care visa route. It outlines the steps involved in the application process and includes tips on how to provide the appropriate evidence required by the Home Office to meet the genuine vacancy requirement. The guidance can be found on the Skills for Care webpage under the ‘Visas and becoming a sponsor’ section.
Councils are encouraged to share this guidance with the sector.
Briefing: Commissioning advocacy
Our new ‘Commissioning advocacy’ briefing is aimed at helping councils commission statutory and non-statutory advocacy. English councils have a legal duty to ensure sufficient statutory advocacy provision for any person in their area.
Non-statutory advocacy covers any advocacy that does not fall under the statutory duties. It can prepare people to speak up and help develop services, policies and procedures that will be effective and will work well for those that need them and use them.
Webinars throughout August – November | Virtual
15 -17 October 2024 | In person/Virtuall
19 November | In Person conference, Novotel London West
27 - 29 November 2024 | Arena and Convention Centre (ACC) Liverpool
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The LGA's membership magazine, 'first', is delivered free each month to just under 17,000 councillors and local authority chief executives. Access first online to browse all news articles, features and opinion pieces, including those from past issues.
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