In this month's Improvement Service e-newsletter, find out how Glasgow is making huge savings through eProcurement; why Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are getting closer; and the results of the Improvement Service planning skills audit. Plus, there are links to the latest resources on the site, including project management tools, and news of events on partnership working and Lean.

ACROSS SCOTLAND

Glasgow saves £9m through eProcurement
Glasgow City Council has saved £9 million by changing the way it buys goods with the implementation of an ambitious eProcurement Programme.

Planning skills high but further development dificult
Scottish planning authorities contain a high level of skills but opportunities for further development are being thwarted by time and work pressures, a skills audit has found.

Councils sign up to climate change declaration
Scottish councils commit to tackling climate change

North-east councils agree to closer working
Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City commit to joint working for "mutual advantage and better services".

Design awareness training for planning authorities
A programme of design awareness training for Scottish planning authorities has been launched by the Improvement Service.

EVENTS

Working together in partnership: a practical approach - 13 February 2007, Broxburn
The Improvement Service is committed to supporting Local Government and other partners involved in integrated service delivery develop the skills to delivery effectively in these complex areas. This interactive workshop will explore the skills required to deliver in an integrated way and help design a programme of practical tools and techniques to support staff involved in integrated service delivery.

Delivering Scotland's Climate Change Declaration - 21 March 2007, Edinburgh
Through the Declaration, Scottish local authority signatories have demonstrated their commitment to minimising the threat of climate change and responding to the challenge of a changing environment. At this event, local authority representatives will have a chance to demonstrate their commitment to the Declaration, influence the shape of the emerging support programme and make personal links with the agencies and individuals that are making climate change a political priority.

The Lean Experience - 27 March 2007, Perth
A highly experiential event structured to let you see for yourself the impact of creating a culture which will support and encourage your people to become actively involved in Lean activities. The event is based on a 'live' business simulation during which you create a real company and attempt to make it work using a traditional Command and Control approach. The lessons from this experience are extracted and compared to life in your organisation to see where the similarities lie. You are then facilitated to develop a new, inclusive, Lean way of working.

LATEST RESOURCES

Project management toolkits
Scotland A-Z / Knowledgebase update
Building business capability through workforce planning
Involving LGBT young people in community planning

***NEW COMMUNITIES ON THE IMPROVEMENT SERVICE SITE***

SHARED SERVICES - Projects, case studies, good practice and toolkits, plus information on the activities of the National Shared Services Board.

SCOTTISH COUNCILS EQUALITIES NETWORK - a voice for local authority equalities work in Scotland. Features discussion of best practice, perfomance benchmarking and consultations on national equalities issues.

ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENT SERVICE The Improvement Service is devoted to improving the efficiency, quality and accountability of public services in Scotland through learning, sharing knowledge and delivering improvement solutions. It is a partnership between the Scottish Executive, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA) and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE). WANT TO APPEAR IN THIS NEWSLETTER? We are always looking for examples of good practice and innovation within Scottish local government and its partners. If you would like to see your work highlighted by the Improvement Service, please contact listen@improvementservice.org.uk