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Procurement Act 2023 – Notices flowchart
The increased flexibility under the new Act means an enhanced transparency regime, and councils will need to get to grips now with the new notices which underpin the enhanced transparency obligations.
We are highlighting this again as the issue of publishing pipeline notices becomes more acute in your day-to-day roles. The notices flowchart explains in plain language the requirements in relation to notices under the new Act, setting out where a contracting authority may be expected and/or required to publish notices in relation to procurement activity. The flowchart sets out which notices will be mandatory, which will be voluntary, and which will be mandatory in specified circumstances.
Temporary accommodation costs
Councils in England spent a record £1 billion on temporary accommodation for homeless families in the past year, according to the latest local authority expenditure figures. This is more than 50 per cent higher than the year before, driven by record numbers of families living in short-term housing, including over 150,000 children. Councils spent £417 million accommodating families in hostels and bed and breakfasts, a 63 per cent increase on the year before.
Competition and Markets Authority - Funerals market: insight gathering
In December 2020 the CMA issued its final report following a market investigation into the supply of funerals and related goods and services in the United Kingdom. The CMA’s market investigation identified problems in the funerals sector and proposed a package of ‘sunlight remedies’ to address those problems.
Last week the CMA published a document seeking views on the funerals market to enable the CMA Board to consider next steps, including whether or not to consult on a MIR. They will seek views on how the funerals market has evolved since the conclusion of the market investigation with a particular interest in hearing from councils with crematoria on these matters.
Please share with relevant colleagues in your organisation.
Competition and Markets Authority – Education Software Services
The CMA has been investigating the conduct of Education Software Solutions Limited (ESS), following complaints that ESS has been making it difficult for schools to switch to a new provider of management information system (MIS) software.
They have published a summary of the CMA’s decision to close our investigation on administrative priority grounds. Over the course of the investigation, a number of local authorities, schools and other stakeholders in the education sector provided information to the CMA regarding ESS’ conduct and the CMA is very grateful for the evidence that they provided.
Despite closing the investigation, the CMA is keen to ensure that the MIS market is and remains competitive and that schools are not put under any unnecessary burdens when they have chosen to switch supplier in relation to MIS or any other products or services. Any further concerns over how competition is operating in this market can be addressed to the CMA via our General Enquiries inbox: generalenquiries@cma.gov.uk
Crown Commercial Service Essentials: What’s a call off and how to get the process right
A ‘call-off’ is a contract between a buyer and a framework supplier that has been placed through a framework. The CCS Essentials series explores the call off process and how you can get the best out of it
LGA Low Carbon Procurement Virtual Event
This LGA virtual event on 10 October will focus on how local authorities use their status as ‘anchor institutions’ to lead by example by adopting policies and processes more favourable to low carbon options in procurement, commissioning, the design of services, contract management and delivery of all services.
UK Passivhaus Conference 2024
Taking place on 19 September, in Oxford, his is an opportunity to connect with industry leaders, explore cutting edge case studies, gain practical insights from keynote speakers and hear panel discussions to implement your own projects. The organisers are offering free tickets to public sector clients, including councils and housing associations.
Webinars throughout August – November | Virtual
3 October 2024 9:00am – 5:00pm | In Person, Manchester Central, M2 3GX
Thursday 10 October 2024, 10.00am - 11.30am | officers & councillors | Virtual event
15 -17 October 2024 | In Person conference/Virtual
19 November | In Person conference, Novotel London West
27 - 29 November 2024 | In Person conference, 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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