Eddie Fraser, Chief Executive (North Ayrshire Council) and Cleland Sneddon, Chief Executive (South Lanarkshire Council).

 

 

There were no conflicts of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.

 

 

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Chief Executive Officers Management Group (CEOMG) held on 16 March 2023.

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel providing an update on key developments within Scotland Excel since the meeting of the CEOMG held on 16 March 2023.

The report provided detailed updates on Scotland Excel’s framework portfolio; the contract delivery plan; the Savings Opportunities Project; the Scotland Excel Academy; projects being undertaken with member councils and associate members; new associate members and the Scotland Excel Supplier Awards and Annual Conference.

The report advised that the National Shared Digital ARC project had experienced some delays in tender release due to the complex nature of terms and conditions and cyber security requirements. The team was engaged in several projects with partners in Scottish Local Government Digital Office. Due to the complexity of migration to this system by councils a phased approach over a period of 18 to 24 months would be used. The National Shared Digital solutions would be used across all 32 councils in Scotland, and progress on this would be reported to a future meeting of this Group. 

DECIDED: 

(a)  That the report be noted; and

(b) That information on the timescale for National Share Digital ARC, which would detail which councils were joining when, be provided to members of this Group. 

M Mitchell, Strategic Programme Manager and S Christie, Commercial Programme Manager gave a presentation providing an update, as at May 2023, on savings opportunities and highlighted possible changes across 12 frameworks to achieve these.  

The presentation also provided information on potential for national work on transactional activity, payment terms and faster, more efficient processing; development of deeper understanding of emerging needs from the Climate Change agenda, economic recovery and skills shortage; and comparisons with Four Nations and London on collaborative potential.

DECIDED: That the presentation be noted. 

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel relative to additional wording to be added to member authority’s Contract Standing Orders (CSOs) around collaboration.

DECIDED: That consideration of the report be carried forward to a future meeting of the CEOMG to allow consultation on the proposals via the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) at the meeting scheduled to be held in August 2023.

E Hay, Strategic Procurement Manager, gave a presentation providing updates on social care which included information around the pay uplift and the annual fee review; children and family care; adult social care; and the National Care Service.

DECIDED: That the presentation be noted.

L Campbell, Scotland Excel Academy Tutor, gave a presentation providing updates on developments in the Academy Learning and Development Strategy which supported members requests for lower priced and shorter duration development programmes and workshops.

The presentation identified measures the refreshed strategy would create including a new nationally recognised procurement pathway for the public sector which was fully aligned to the Scottish national procurement development framework and the Scottish Qualification Authority.

DECIDED: That the presentation be noted.

DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of this Group would be held at 10.00 am on 9 August 2023.