Collaborative procurement proposals will result in a shake-up of procurement across all UK public sector organizations. It is estimated that efficiency savings £7.7 billion will be produced by 2013-14. The proposals are set out in a Treasury report ‘Operational Efficiency Programme’. The other strands of the Programme are Shared Services
Property Asset Management
and Total Place
Publicnet provides an overview of the Programme.

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Figures showing an increase in the number of children being taken into care do not paint the full picture of local authorities’ work to protect children, according to the Local Government Association. CAFCASS, the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service, said there had been a significant growth in care applications by councils since November last year and this might be explained by ‘a lowering of the threshold of intervention by local authorities following the publicity surrounding the Baby P criminal court case’.

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A four-year regeneration scheme for North Wales has moved a step nearer with approval for Convergence Funding. The decision means the 38 million pound programme of improvements can go ahead in seven of of the most deprived communities in Wales.

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This programme is now available to view on egovtv.tv, the online television channel for public service modernisation. It describes how Thames Valley Police use Blackberry Smartphones to give community officers instant access to key information whenever and wherever they are.

Read more on MOBILE WORKING GIVES THAMES VALLEY POLICE REMOTE ACCESS TO DATABASES…