WIREDGOV NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

‘Food for thought’

A group of 7 London Boroughs, supported by YPO, the UK’s largest public sector buying organisation, have awarded a £50m contract to Thomas Ridley Food Service to provide food for school meals.

YPO was able to coordinate the tender process through its unique public sector framework known as ‘The UK Food Deal’, which was launched nationwide in 2016 and was set up specifically to meet the needs of public sector organisations which look for a legally compliant, easy-to-use and cost-saving way of procuring food.

The framework means that YPO can help organisations be more efficient by saving time & money on lengthy & complex tenders, leaving them to focus on their priorities such as education provision.  It also allows organisations to access a range of local & national suppliers including SMEs.
Researched Links:

YPO:  £50m food contract across London awarded

YPO helps public sector save £20m on water bill

YPO announced as new CIPS Knowledge Partner

Making money with energy efficiency

The Insurance Act - What does it mean?

YPO creates role to support Multi Academy Trusts

YPO wins the double at prestigious energy industry awards

Can first class travel be more cost effective?

Creating a compelling Employer Value Proposition

Time to face up to cyber risk

 

In a little over 50 years, Singapore has transformed itself from a sleepy island into one of the world’s most advanced economies. Innovative city leaders are using smart-cities technology to address congestion, climate change, business competitiveness, and long-term economic growth.

Singapore receives top rankings for ease of doing business, tourism, and use of smart-cities technology. The keys to its success include:

  • Creating ubiquitous connectivity, digital and physical
  • Building a competitive economy through strong public-private partnerships
  • Improving quality of life for all citizens

Click here to learn what Singapore is doing right and how you can speed up your smart city success.

 
They have ‘made ’$bns’, so they can afford to spend ‘$ms’ to ‘police’ their sites
The Home Affairs Committee has strongly criticised social media companies for failing to take down and take sufficiently seriously illegal content – saying they are "shamefully far" from taking sufficient action to tackle hate & dangerous content on their sites.
Researched Links:

PC&PE:  Social media companies "shamefully far" from tackling illegal & dangerous content

They should hide their ‘Faces’ in shame

Tackling the ‘Dark Side’ of social media in schools

Capture & report bullies in action

And here is another area of ‘digital concern’

Millions of eyes monitoring will help keep us safe

It’s a big, bad e-world out there, but very enticing for children

Teachers are vulnerable too

The dark side of social media: Be careful what you share with the wide ...

Mitigating Social Media Risk: Latest Report

 
Facing a lifetime with mental health issues!
As part of a joint inquiry into children & young people's mental health, the Health and Education Committees found that financial pressures are restricting the provision of mental health services in schools and colleges. The next Government must review the effect of the budget reductions in the education sector, the report adds.
Researched Links:

PC&PE:  Pupils should have more time for well-being, say MPs

Hopefully more joined-up working will help reduce this problem

They deserve ‘special’ care

Children are mentally vulnerable

Good foster care is critical for the emotional development & well-being of a child

Promoting positive well-being for children | The Children's Society

Social & emotional wellbeing for children & young people - NICE

Childhood Wellbeing Research Centre

ONS:  Children's Well-being Measures

Child Well-being | The Equality Trust

A child's guide to the child well-being report - Unicef UK

Promoting children & young people's emotional health & well-being - Gov.uk

 
Many people have been saying this for years
The Government should establish a national food waste reduction target to drive efforts to reduce the food waste costing the average person in the UK £200 per year and supermarkets should publicly report data on the amount of food they bin and relax rules that prevent the sale of "wonky vegetables" to combat food waste, the Environment Food & Rural Affairs Committee says in its report.
Researched Links:

PC&PE:  Government & supermarkets must do more to prevent food waste scandal

How did they manage before freezers?

Proposals for cutting food waste

Freezing food can lead to a less wasteful Christmas

Getting to grips with our food waste

FSA urges public to 'face freezer fears' in a bid to tackle food waste

 
SME Supplier Locator update...

UK Government and public sector spend with SME’s is continually on the increase and by 2020, it is the stated intent of Cabinet Office that £1 of every £3 spent on government contracts goes to SME’s. The past 5 years have seen government make a priority of getting money through its supply chain into the hands of SMEs, by both setting targets and introducing new procurement mechanisms.

Against this backdrop, the WiredGov Supplier Locator service has been developed specifically to embrace the SME Agenda and provide the ideal platform for SME’s to promote their services, solutions, accreditation and success stories directly to our ever increasing audience across all government and public sector verticals and Tier 1 suppliers.

Click here to find out more and view this week’s new arrivals to the SME Supplier Locator service. 

 
Everyone knows agricultural subsidies need a total reform
The EU Energy & Environment Sub-Committee publishes its report which investigates the implications of Brexit for UK agriculture & food, particularly the implications of leaving the EU's Common Agriculture Policy and the Single Market.
Researched Links:

PC&PE:  Brexit: agriculture report published

ScotGov:  CAP reform

IEA:  Brexit offers unrivalled opportunity to halt potential food price rises, argues new paper

PC&PE:  Common Agricultural Policy reform must focus on delivering Public Goods

NIA:  Committee brings Brexit concerns to the fore

Post-Brexit Farming Policy - CPRE‎

The effect of Brexit on agriculture & fisheries in South West England

After Brexit: What happens next for the UK's farmers? - BBC News

NFU:  Implications of a UK exit from the EU for British agriculture

Implications of BREXIT for UK agriculture | Yorkshire Agricultural Society

Scots clash over impact of Brexit on agriculture - Farmers Weekly

 
Is one ‘rich’ if he/she is struggling to pay off a £500k mortgage on a small house in Outer London and also paying £000s p.a. to commute?
Most of us would like somebody else to pay for the public goods & services we consume.  Politicians tend to give the impression that this is their intention too – often through somewhat vague references to "the rich", “the very best-off” or “those with the broadest shoulders”.  However, it is rarely clear from such statements exactly who is being referred to.
Researched Links:

IFS: If politicians talk about the rich, always ask who they mean

IFS: Incomes & inequality: the last decade and the next parliament

JRF: Next Parliament could be a real struggle for poorer families

Telegraph:  Nearly half of Britons pay no income tax as burden on rich increases

CSJ:  How to help the financially excluded?

 
Car scrappage voucher scheme to reduce number of diesel cars?

The government has published a draft plan to improve air quality by reducing nitrogen dioxide levels in UK towns & cities.  The options now open for consultation (closes on 15 June 2016) are designed to reduce the impact of diesel vehicles, and accelerate the move to cleaner transport.

Local authorities are already responsible for improving air quality in their area, but will now be expected to develop new & creative solutions to reduce emissions as quickly as possible, while avoiding undue impact on the motorist.

In line with the timetable directed by the Courts the government is seeking views on these proposals in advance of preparing its final plan for publication by 31 July 2017.  All final decisions will be taken by the incoming government.
Researched Links:

Defra:  New air quality plan published for consultation

BHF:  Government delay bid unsuccessful for air pollution report, rules High Court

New zone is a breath of fresh air

GLA:  Mayor launches first Low Emission Bus Zone

Air Quality Grant programme

EC warns Germany, France, Spain, Italy & the UK of continued air pollution breaches

Air quality consultation launched

Ten EU countries continue to breach National Emission Ceilings Directive limits

Clean Air Zones urged for pollution hotspots, says Committee report

PX:  Raise road tax on new diesel cars to improve air quality

PX:  Nearly a quarter of all school children in London are exposed to illegal & harmful levels of air pollution

Mayor and TfL finalise ULEZ requirements for taxi and minicab trades

Car emissions: MEPs push for ‘real-life’ test protocol

PX teams up with King’s College London on major new study on how to tackle air pollution in the Capital

New vision for taxi and private hire services in the Capital

London to launch world first for air quality

24 projects to improve air quality to receive £1m fund

Change planning rules to protect children from air pollution

The Court clarifies Member States’ obligations as regards respecting the limit values for nitrogen dioxide

Government gets red card for wildlife protection, flooding prevention and air quality

New hybrid bus charging technology trial announced

 
We need a legally defined & enforceable ‘litmus test’ to prevent employer abuse of ‘self-employment’
A new study carried out by the National Institute of Economic & Social Research for the TUC reveals that the UK has seen significant growth in insecure forms of employment compared to other EU countries. The study links the growth to relatively weak legal protections for those in bogus self-employment, agency work and on zero-hour contracts.
Researched Links:

NIESR: International study demonstrates importance of new legislation to help Britain’s insecure workers

PC&PE:  "Gig economy" companies free-riding on the welfare state

TUC: International study demonstrates importance of new legislation to help Britain’s insecure workers

TUC: EU negotiation guidelines offer golden opportunity to secure workers' rights

TUC: Over a quarter of a million more in insecure work by end of next Parliament

TUC: Zero-hours contracts allow bosses to treat workers like “disposable labour”

Code of Practice for Ethical Employment launched

Employers tricking people out of sick pay, says Citizens Advice

TUC: Rise in insecure work is costing Exchequer £4bn a year

CIPD:  Brexit, gig economy and pay will continue to define labour market in 2017

Official figures show nearly 3% of UK workers on zero hours contracts

BEIS Statement on ONS zero-hours contracts statistical release

CAB:  Number of temporary agency workers rises by 29% in a decade

4.5m people in insecure work, reveals Citizens Advice

CAB:  Casual workers at risk of ‘wage theft’ from unscrupulous employers

 
Don’t Register, Can’t Vote, Don’t Complain!
Last week the UK Electoral Commission had a day of dedicated activity to encourage UK citizens living overseas to register to vote ahead of the UK Parliamentary General Election on Thursday 8 June 2017.  Expats can now apply to register online in just a few minutes at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Electoral Commission:  UK expats – don’t miss out, you may be able to vote in the General Election

 
OS expands the Geovation Programme

Meet the 4 GeoTech start-ups with new technologies and new thinking that have been specially selected as the newest additions to Ordnance Survey’s corporate accelerator, the Geovation Programme.

The latest intakes to the Programme are:

  • Passive Eye – Self-powered, GPS asset trackers which never need their batteries recharging or replacing
  • Lie of the Land – Winner of the Geovation Underground Assets Challenge
  • City Seer – A new data & interface agnostic API for real-time urban metrics.
  • LocalisticoDigital Marketing platform that provides the ability to edit Internet profiles quick & easy.
Researched Links:

Ordnance Survey:  GeoTech continues to grow

Trimble and Ordnance Survey collaborate to aid geospatial industry innovation

Apps, paths and drones: Geovation announces its next generation of Programme members

Britain’s buried treasure

Kick Start Your Start-Up with Geovation

 
Book Now!
Learning at Work Week is fast-approaching. With less than one week to go, registration for fascinating insight sessions is now open.  UK Online Centres have teamed up with experts from across the network to bring you an excellent series of free webinars, where they’ll share their vast & varied knowledge with you.  Learning at Work Week is a brilliant opportunity to learn some new & exciting skills that you can use both in your centre and at home.

UK Online Centres:  Learning At Work Week - Book Now!

 
Two checks may require compensation
CJEU: A collision between an aircraft and a bird is an ‘extraordinary circumstance’.  However, where an authorised expert finds after the collision that the aircraft concerned is airworthy, the carrier cannot justify the delay by invoking the need to carry out a second check.

CJEU: A collision between an aircraft and a bird is an ‘extraordinary circumstance’

 
BCS; Distinguished Fellowship call for nominations
Distinguished Fellow is the highest award made by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.  It is awarded to individuals where their contribution to computing is seen in terms of major importance to the overall development of computing, with substantial personal recognition through peer review over a substantial and sustained career.  The nomination process closes at 12 noon GMT on 23 June 2017.

BCS:  Distinguished Fellowship Award

 
It can impact on many workers
An opportunity for members of the public to learn about the work of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC).  The aim of the meeting is to give members of the public, their representatives, and people with a professional interest in occupational diseases, the opportunity to learn & ask questions about the council’s work.  Reserve a place or ask your questions by Thursday 22 June 2017 at –iiac@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

DWP:  Invitation to an IIAC meeting on 6 July 2017

 

 More contributions following EU Referendum

Still a ‘hot topic’, with widely spread views, for those who put fingers to keyboard in order to ‘share their views’:

Researched Links:

PC&PE:  Government must act urgently to end Brexit risk to nuclear industry

PC&PE:  Further scrutiny of "Great Repeal Bill" proposals urged for next Parliament

PC&PE:  Fresh thinking on UK policy toward the Middle East needed

PC&PE:  Civil service inquiry breaks new ground as Government approaches Brexit

PC&PE:  Brexit: agriculture report published

ScotGov:  CAP reform

Mobile phone bill limit puts power back in hands of consumers, says Citizens Advice

NHS Confederation:   House of Commons Health Committee Brexit report right to put health 'front & centre'

CBI: Our response to EU negotiation principles

TUC: EU negotiation guidelines offer golden opportunity to secure workers' rights

TUC: Middle & low-income workers’ rights at risk in both EU & UK after Brexit, warns new report

FDA:  PACAC report adds to mounting evidence that Britain needs a strong civil service

CIPD:  Brexit bonfire of employment law not needed, say employers

IFG:  Freedom of movement will continue after Brexit

IPPR:  The government should seek a new deal on migration that allows free movement for key workers in the economy

EU News:  EMA and heads of national competent authorities discuss consequences of Brexit

EU News:  European Council (Art. 50) guidelines for Brexit negotiations

EC takes next step in Article 50 process by recommending draft negotiating directives

 
Please choose from the links below to view individual sections of interest:

Last week, metro mayors were elected across England. But looking at the candidates, you would think leadership at a local level was only a man’s game, writes Katie Ghose.
"A staggering 93% of the most powerful positions – mayoralties and cabinet posts – will be held by white men. In four regions, including the Liverpool city region and the West Midlands, not one woman will hold a position of power. Coupled with the poor record on electing women to police and crime commissioners (there are only seven out of 41 currently), local democracy is an old boys’ club."
What could - or should - be done about this? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter, @GuardianPublic.

Also on the network
'It's important no one gets left behind': Singapore's government data strategy

'It's important no one gets left behind': Singapore's government data strategy
Singapore is dubbed the best prepared country in the world for the new digital economy. Jacqueline Poh leads its newly-formed digital agency

New computer systems are sending our fire engines to the wrong places

New computer systems are sending our fire engines to the wrong places
Stress levels are soaring at my fire brigade control room because our systems always crash and are riddled with errors. I worry lives are put at risk

What is HS2 and how much will it cost?
What is HS2 and how much will it cost?
Not sure why government is so keen on a new £55.7bn high-speed rail link? We answer your questions
News in brief
• Labour will put 10,000 extra police on streets, vows Jeremy Corbyn
• Vince Cable warns of bankruptcy risk as ‘desperate’ councils play the property market
• Tory candidate defends spending up to £1m on West Midlands mayor campaign
• Violent crime rising in England and Wales, police figures show
• Inquiry treated us with contempt, says family of man shot by police on M62