Consultations

OFT:  The Office of Fair Trading is launching a fact-finding review to understand more about the challenges facing consumers & businesses in remote communities across the UK, and is calling for evidence from the public in these areas to help inform its work (closes 20 April 2012). 
Press release & links

BS:  Buying Solutions are launching a consultation in order to take account of the changing requirements customers.  Estates Professional Services will begin the procurement process for the replacement framework by holding Customer Sounding events between 20 - 22 March 2012. 
Press release & links 

WAG:  A consultation (closes on 7 May 2012) has been launched on nominated quiet areas in South Wales . The places being consulted on are large, public spaces such as Heath Park , Cardiff and Cwmdonkin Park , Swansea .  Once an area has been designated it is protected from increases in noise by the Environmental Noise Directive and planning policy. 
Press release & links

CO:  The Government is recently calling on voluntary, business & public sector organisations to play their part in running National Citizen Service (NCS) schemes in a market that could be worth up to £110m by 2014.  Under the programme, young people from very different backgrounds are brought together into a team for 3 weeks, with a common objective, to give something back to their local community and achieve something of which they can be proud.

The Government’s ambition is to make NCS available to all 16-year-olds so that it becomes a rite of passage and is committed to providing 90,000 places by 2014.  In order to do this it needs organisations, from big business to voluntary organisations, to run the schemes around the country.

So that it can find out how to make it easier for organisations to get involved, the Government is launching a period of market consultation to help inform how it will realise its ambitions to scale NCS.  Responses to the online questionnaire are required by 5pm, Friday 16 March, 2012.

Press release & links

EU News:  The European Commission has launched a public consultation, to get stakeholders' views on the application of the 2004 EU Guidelines on state aid to maritime transport.  Submissions can be made until 14 May 2012

The purpose of the present consultation is to invite Member States & stakeholders to provide feedback & data about the effect that the Maritime Guidelines have had on the EU maritime industry or the evolution of business models.  The Commission is also interested in information about possible shortcomings of the Guidelines that could be addressed in the future.

Press release & links

DfT:  Rail passengers and other interested groups are being asked for their views on how train services could be improved in Essex , Rail Minister Theresa Villiers announced last week.   

The consultation (closes on the 11 May 2012) will give them the opportunity to say what changes and improvements they would like to see delivered by the new Essex Thameside franchise.  Bidders will be invited to take on the new 15 year franchise which is due to start on 26 May 2013.

Press release & links

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