West of England Sub-regional Procurement Capacity Project
A joint project between four local authorities in the West of England sub-region aims to reap efficiencies and savings by providing targeted procurement training for staff.
Postal Services
A review of postal services by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council led to savings of more than £16,500 annually. This represents a 16% saving on total postage costs of £103,000. Increasing use of e-correspondence and e-procurement is now expected to result in further savings.
e-auction savings for examination gloves
A collaborative e-auction for examination glovesheld for public sector organisations in the Bristol area will lead to savings of half a million pounds over three years.
Collaborative Opportunities
The Gloucestershire Procurement Partnership (GPP) has so far generated £2.8m of anticipated savings as a result of employing a Strategic Procurement Manager
e-auction savings for office supplies
Supported by the South West Centre of Excellence nine Gloucestershire & Wiltshire district authorities, led by the Gloucestershire Procurement Partnership via Cheltenham Borough Council, have utilised a collaborative e-auction process to achieve anticipated savings of £720,000 a year on their office supplies contract.
Innovative Energy Procurement
Gloucester City Council, Gloucester City Homes and Cheltenham Borough Council have found that procuring energy via e-tender, using an energy specialist software company has protected them from substantial increases in energy prices.
Implementing Pcards - Cornwall County Council
Cornwall County Council has found that procurement cards (p-cards) reduce the administrative costs of purchasing by at least 40%.
Implementing Procurement cards - SW Fire and Rescue Services
Utilising support from the South West Centre of Excellence (SWCoE) the South West Fire & Rescue Services (SWFRS) have implemented a regional approach to the implementation of Government Procurement Cards (GPC). This work is the first stage in the transformation of transaction management processes where £500,000 p.a. of cashable savings have been identified.
Implementing Pcards - Torridge District Council
Savings Torridge District Council has switched to using procurement cards (p-cards) across the authority. One of the unexpected benefits of the switch from traditional payment methods has occurred in the Legal Section. By moving to using electronic search and payment of ‘enquiries to land registry’ Torridge have achieved significant cashable and non-cashable savings.
eProcurement Helpline
The South West Centre of Excellence (SWCE) set up a procurement helpline to provide free, independent advice to councils and fire and rescue services in the South West. Since its inception the helpline has taken calls on a range of procurement and e-procurement matters, including how to use e-auctions, set up tenders for OJEU and create a business case for p-cards.
e-auction savings for agency staff
Utilising the support of the South West Centre of Excellence Wiltshire County Council, Bath & North East Somerset Unitary Authority, and the four Wiltshire District Councils, may achieve savings of £5.7 million over three years after undertaking a collaborative e-tender and e-auction process for Agency Staff.
Contact Gillian Brindle on 01305 757232 or g.brindle@dorsetcc.gov.uk for any further information regarding the Procurement workstream.
