The main roles of the RCEs include:
The nine RCEs are committed to working together and with other parts of the public sector, to reduce duplication and to increase the available efficiency gains. The RCEs coordinate their activity through a monthly meeting of the Directors of RCEs (Chaired by David Wright), Director of North-East Centre, and a bi-monthly meeting of the Chief Executives of the RCE host councils (The Chief Executives Task Force, Chaired by Tim Byles). Support from within the local government community is provided by the LGA Performance Partnership (IDeA, 4Ps and the Employers Organisation). In addition a discrete team led by Peter Bishop (also the Director of the LGTF) has been established to work as the support to the RCEs and local authorities in the regions and CLG in the centre in facilitating their delivery of the Efficiency Review. This team can be contacted through Adrian Bentley on adrain.bentley@rcoe.gov.uk
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (CLG) has circulated a report, Delivering Efficiency in Local Services (the approach to measuring efficiency gains across local government - except for education and the Police - is set out in a related Efficiency Technical Note). This report is an information pack for chief executives and leaders. It has identified a number of cross cutting workstreams and has set out the planned approach to supporting the work of local authorities in achieving efficiency gains in these workstreams. Each chief executive of the RCEs has agreed to take a personal lead in a number of cross cutting sectors and service sectors. The RCE, led by their chief executive with support from their regional director, will act as the first point of contact and the co-ordinator for the specific workstream area, acting as a signpost to sources of information, advice and expertise. They will also endeavour to liaise and engage with appropriate change agents, central government departments and other stakeholders, participating in national meetings / steering groups where appropriate.
The leads are:
The IDeA and the RCEs have launched a new report, Efficiency Matters - The Annual Efficiency Statement. Why your CPA rating could be at risk. This is a short guide detailing the importance for local authorities of delivering efficiency savings and identifying the RCEs as the first point of contact for advice on the efficiency agenda.
The challenges laid down within Rethinking Construction have prompted many local authorities to take a more radical approach to their construction related procurement activity. The picture that is emerging is that for those who are willing to enter into new ways of working, the potential benefits are significant. The change process is still, relatively, in its infancy, and it is difficult to present a coherent national picture. The seductive incentive to change is that these cost efficiencies are being delivered whilst simultaneously producing a better quality product, more quickly, and in a safer environment. The LGTF has within the Constructing Excellence regional network, been supporting local initiatives, particularly through their regional champions. The LGTF believes that the launch of the Regional Centres of Excellence provides an exciting opportunity for construction and non-construction professionals alike, to share best procurement practice.
The Local Government Task Force shares the Rethinking Construction vision that tangible improvements that can be delivered to the construction process by more efficient ways of working. It believes that, whilst it does have a role to play, serial design and tendering of projects should generally be avoided, and that projects should be designed and delivered using the expertise of the entire project team. Key elements of the new procurement regimes for local authorities should be:
Authorities should also consider the potential benefits of collective purchasing/supply arrangements and the efficiencies that consortia might deliver.
The LGTF has been identified by the CLG as a key national change agent in the Efficiency Review and in particular it is working in support of Roger Latham, Chief Executive of the Centre of Excellence in the East Midlands, who has taken the lead role in the Construction Procurement workstream.