This first report on practice identifies a mixed picture in the progress of local authorities towards more efficient and effective procurement mechanisms in the pursuit of delivering better services to citizens. There has been progress in many areas, particularly those where there are clear policy drivers for improving procurement performance. In other aspects of procurement, local authorities still have opportunities to make real improvements, because the majority of councils are not rigorously challenging the current pattern of services, effectively comparing their performance, or fully utilising competitive procurement practices.The National Procurement Strategy for Local Government provides a set of policy arguments and targets for better local government procurement. Over 90% of respondents consider the Strategy ‘important’ or ‘very important’. Respondents also recognise the role of the Regional Centres of Excellence in assisting them meet the Strategy milestones. The survey indicates that progress towards meeting the milestones varies between local authorities and between types of authority.

Read more on SURVEY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT PRACTICE…

The NHS Alliance is warning today that the role of doctors, nurses and other clinicians in running local health services may have been overlooked. The warning comes in a policy statement published today by the Alliance, an independent body that represents primary care.The paper has been produced following the announcement of another restructuring of local management in the health service. This will see Primary Care Trusts across the country merging to create larger bodies similar to the old health authorities.

Read more on NEW NHS BODIES ‘MUST HAVE ROLE FOR CLINICIANS’…

The Government is facing a call this morning to build an extra 60,000 new social rented homes by 2011 at a cost of 1.25 billion pounds. In a hard-hitting report ‘Building hope: The case for more homes now’, the housing charity Shelter says it is time to confront the full reality of the country’s housing crisis. The report warns that without these new homes, Ministers will not deliver on the recommendations of the Treasury-commissioned Barker Review of housing supply and will fail to reach their own target to halve the number of people in temporary accommodation by 2010.The report is based on research conducted for Shelter by leading Cambridge academics. It sets out the definitive picture of housing need across the country. Based on its findings, Shelter estimates that if the Government funds the new homes, tens of thousands of children could be lifted out of bad housing. The charity is calling on Gordon Brown to commit to building the additional homes in the pre-budget report in November, when a formal response to the Barker Review is expected. Shelter is calling on members of the public to show their support for ‘More Homes Now!’ by signing campaign cards that can be presented to Gordon Brown.

Read more on CALL FOR 60,000 MORE RENTED HOMES…