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Setting standard for waste and use of recovered materials in construction |
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The Government’s Sustainable Procurement Action Plan (2007) sets as a principal goal the procurement of sustainably built and managed properties and roads throughout the public sector. The Sustainable Procurement Action Plan now calls on public bodies to set key performance indicators and clear minimum standards in their tender invitations and contracts. Good practice includes requirements for site waste management and the use of recovered materials. This guide outlines the tools and information available, free of charge, to help build capacity within procurement teams in local authorities. Supporting tools are available from www.wrap.org.uk/construction [Open] |
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Small Business Friendly Concordat: Good Practice Guidance |
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Too many small businesses are missing out on government and local government contracts. Yet they are often key local employers and significant contributors to their local communities. For too long they have been squeezed out of contracts of all sizes. Fortunately some councils are addressing this problem and this guide to good practice is designed to make it easier for small businesses to supply goods and services to councils. [Open] |
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Social Enterprise and the Public Sector, a practical guide to law and policy |
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Social Enterprise East Midlands (SEEM) has produced a guide titled, “Social Enterprise and the Public Sector, a practical guide to law and policy”.
The Guide has been developed by SEEM’s BEST Procurement partnership which brings together public sector, social enterprise and technical support partners.
The guide identifies ways for the public sector to do business better with social enterprises whilst also delivering many of the authorities’ wider strategic policy objectives. For those looking for new approaches to commissioning and procurement of public services, it highlights practical paths through the current legal framework.
Evan Rees, SEEM’s CEO said:
“The social enterprise model has so much to offer the public sector. We share a public value ethos, we deliver sustainable solutions and we work with public sector partners to design highly innovative services that join together a range of policy aspirations.
Working with a variety of public and social enterprise sector partners, we have developed this guide to help the social enterprise movement and the public sector to find new ways to work together. We hope that this will enable the public sector to find new commissioning solutions and help the growth of social enterprises delivering high quality public services”.
The guide is intended to be a useful resource for:
• Those involved in commissioning and procurement in the public sector,
• Those involved in service development, economic development and strategic policy in the public sector,
• People working in social enterprises who are targeting the public sector as potential customers or are already working on them and
• Those who support social enterprises by providing business advice, training, networking and/or advocacy.
Mark Cook of Anthony Collins, author of the guide, says,
"Social enterprises have been at the forefront of public services for many years, but there is still a lack of common understanding of how to positively use the legal framework. At a time when ever more markets are opening up for social enterprises to participate in, this guide seeks to set out very simply what can be done to give social enterprises a fair chance in providing public services."
The guide covers the commissioning framework, EU procurement, issues for the public sector and for social enterprises. It is available in PDF format for downloading from the SEEM website, www.seem.uk.net.
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Social Issues in Public Procurement |
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The Government has a responsibility to create a fairer society for everyone, support those with a disadvantage and improve people’s well being and we also have a responsibility to use taxpayers’ money wisely. These responsibilities aren’t mutually exclusive and somewhere they can work in tandem is in public procurement. Round a third of public spending goes on purchasing goods and services, so it is important that considering social outcomes and achieving value for money fit together. We shouldn’t forget that the very principle of buying on a value for money basis isn’t about buying the cheapest; it is about taking account of the hole-life cost and wider factors such as social considerations. This practical guide draws on real-life examples to show public procurers how they can help address social concerns both in what we buy and in the way we expect suppliers to cater or our needs. [Open] |
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SOPO (1998), Environmental Purchasing Guide, Society of Procurement Officers. |
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The Society of Procurement Officers in Local Government (SOPO) engages in a range of activities to promote its strategic purchasing, contracting and supplies function. Representing over 2,700 members, SOPO provides area networks and forums and produces guidance and best practice. [Open] |
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Standard Template Documents. |
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The East Midlands Centre of Excellence (EMCE) in collaboration with other RCE's have established a series of standard template documents for use by local authorities.
These documents, which are all available in the startegies, policies and guidance sectio under Standard Template Documents, have been developed by various groups often using examples of what was considered existing good practice and refining these. [Open] |
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Sustainability & Local Government Procurement |
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This guide explains how local authorities can develop and implement a sustainable procurement policy and a risk-based strategy designed to tackle the categories of spending that have the greatest environmental and social impacts. It goes on to describe how sustainability can be built into the whole procurement cycle: identifying needs; appraising options; design and specification; supplier selection; tender evaluation; contract management and supplier development. [Open] |
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Sustainable Construction Technical Appendix. |
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The Kent Design Guide(Making it Happen-Sustainable Construction) was prepared for adoption as Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) for Kent and Medway Structure Plan in 2006 and subsequently for adoption by all LA's across Kent. [Open] |
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Sustainable development indicators in your pocket 2007 |
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An update of the UK Government's sustainable development indicators
Indicators are integral to the communication of sustainable development. They help review progress, they highlight where the challenges are, and they help people to understand what sustainable development means globally, nationally, locally and for them as individuals. A new set of national indicators were outlined in the UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy, Securing the future, launched by the Prime Minister in March 2005. The following indicators were updated on 27 July 2007, and published as a free pocket booklet. [Open] |
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Sustainable Development Indicators in Your Pocket 2007 (Regional) |
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Regional versions of the UK Government’s indicators of sustainable development were first published in December 2005 to help provide a perspective of sustainable development in each region. They were last updated on 31st January 2008 to support the new UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy, ‘Securing the Future’ (published in March 2005), there is a suite of 68 national sustainable development indicators. For 46 of these indicators, for which regional data are available, it has been possible to produce regional versions for the Government Office Regions.
The indicators highlight issues within the priority areas of Sustainable Consumption and Production, Natural Resources, and Sustainable Communities. [Open] |
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Sustainable Supply Chains |
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A leaflet detailing the help and advice that is specifically targeted at supply chain professionals who are looking for help and advice on sustainability issues within their supply chains. [Open] |
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