Welcome
Bryony Houlden, Chief Executive, South West Secretariat
Welcome to the August edition of South West Councils News.
This edition brings together a wide variety of news and events and policy updates from across the region.
Thank you to those who have contributed to this month's edition. Please do continue to let us know what you think of this newsletter or submit stories for publication.
Yours Bryony.
Climate Change
Planners Tool Kit set to RIEP Results
The Improvement and Efficiency Partnership has supported the development of a toolkit to provide advice on Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Adaptation....
Construction of Wave Hub gets underway
The latest stage of the South West RDA pioneering Wave Hub project got underway....
Business Tranformation
Designing a fit for future Organisation
On 30 June, South West Councils jointly hosted a free seminar with the IDeA and LGA entitled "Designing a fit for future Organisation"....
Smarter Procurement
Implementing consultancy Value Programme (CVP) in local Government
A toolkit has been developed to support the implementation of Consultancy Value Programme (CVP) in Local Government....
South West Fairtrade Procurement Conference - 19 October 2010
Make a note in your diaries! The new date for the South West Fairtrade Procurement Conference is Tuesday 19 October 2010....
South West Employers
Collaborative Working: the future of Democratic Services
Collaborative Working: the future of Democratic Services conference ran on 22 July and was attended by those working in democratic services across the South West...
Procurement Training
A skilled staff force is key to the delivery of procurement excellence in the South West Region. This series of training modules, delivered by Cordie Ltd, has been devised to support those working in procurement in the public sector....
Award Winner Confirmed for Public Sector PA & Secretary Event - 14 October 2010
Hays & The Times PA of the Year winner 2010, Laura Richardson is one of the speakers at this event for public sector PAs and Secretaries...
Stronger Communities
Big Society - Community Organisers Workshops
As part of the drive to create a Big Society, the Government is proposing to train ‘community organisers’ to help local people work together to make their communities better places to live, two workshops are planned for September 2010...
Delivering the Big Society- Lessons from Wiltshire's Highly Acclaimed Model
Last chance for officers and members to find out how its award winning area boards model is operating, one year since its inception...
Big Society Conference Taunton 4 November 2010
Nick Hurd MP, Minister for Civil Society to speak at free Big Society Conference in Taunton 4 November 2010...
Adult Health and Wellbeing
Intelligence to inform better workforce planning that improves people’s lives
The Centre for Workforce Intelligence (CfWI) is the new national authority on workforce planning and development across health and social care
Property Construction
Construction Framework HI Viz Summer Newsletter
Hi Viz - the newsletter of the Construction Framework South West have published their Summer newsletter...
South West Councils
Fair Funding for the South West
South West Councils are inviting contributions to prepare a response to the Local Government Finance Formula Grant Distribution Consultation....
Through the Looking Glass: Putting citizens at the heart of the assessment process
A new report, funded by South West Improvement & Efficiency Partnership is calling for the remaining post Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) inspection regimes to be slimmed down and for local citizens to play a greater role in driving up standards....
Shapps Responds to South West on Disabled Facilities Grant
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has responded to a letter from the Chair of South West Councils, which expressed concern over the funding allocation process for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to Councils in the South West....
Leading by Example Toolkit Workshop
A Workshop to showcase the ‘Leading By Example’ toolkit – providing support to councils in their role as employers dealing with local unemployment is taking place on 9 September in Bristol....
West Devon and South Hams Chief Executive Announced
Richard Sheard, GOSW Deputy Director will take over as shared chief executive of West Devon BC and South Hams DC when David Incoll retires later this year....
Councillors are key to local project success
A new joint publication, Local Action: The Handy Guide to Communities Working with Councillors, shows that councillor involvement is key to the success of local community projects....
South West Public Health Observatory launch the 2010 Health Profiles
South West Public Health Observatory 2010 Health Profiles provide a snapshot overview of health for each local authority and region in England....
Local Economy
£1 billion Regional Growth Fund launched
A £1 billion Regional Growth Fund to help areas and communities at risk of being particularly affected by public spending cuts was announced. ...