APSE Briefings

APSE briefing 10-75: The Localism Bill and Trading Powers

• The Decentralisation and Localism Bill contains a number of important provisions that impact upon local councils
• The Bill includes a new General Power of Competence for local authorities (within England)
• The Bill seeks to open up 25% of public sector contracts to the social enterprise sector and prescribes a ‘community right to challenge’ in the provision of public services

APSE briefing 09/48: Local authority trading, charging and procurement - survey report 2009

• APSE conducted an on-line survey during February and March 2009 which was sent to 252 APSE member authorities throughout the UK. A total of 105 responses were received.
• The results of our survey have shown:
  • significant numbers sell services to the private sector, other public sector organisations including the NHS, police and fire authorities and third sector bodies
  • significant numbers generate substantial income to help support service improvement and efficiencies
  • significant numbers have adopted social or environmental procurement strategies

APSE briefing 08/04: Audit commission report

• The Audit Commission has studied the impact of strategic service-delivery partnerships (SSPs) and the effectiveness of this route in producing efficiency gains for local authorities to inform its report ‘For better, for worse; Value for money in strategic service-delivery partnerships’
• The report has highlighted a number of failings in SSPs whereby the anticipated benefits of economies of scale, innovation and risk sharing have yet to be realised
• The report also highlights that such partnerships can be high risk for the public sector as the complexity of the arrangements coupled with a need for expertise can lead to councils signing up to SSPs without the right level of knowledge or expertise.

APSE Briefing 07/45: Trading and charging: an update

• Scottish Executive clarifies that explanatory note 26 of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 is incorrect and can be disregarded.
• This removes any notion that local authorities are limited to the use of surplus capacity when trading with other public sector bodies.
• It brings a successful conclusion to a long term APSE lobbying campaign.

APSE briefing 05/33: Welsh Assembly Government Consultation - Local Authority Trading Powers

• For the majority of trading arrangements that Local Authorities will want to undertake, the existing powers provide a sufficient basis.
• APSE welcomes the fact that the overall Council performance on WPI is not linked to whether or not Councils in Wales can trade under section 95.
• APSE would welcome clear guidance from the Assembly in relation to the linkages that WPI has with any trading activities.

APSE briefing 04/35: Trading and charging statutory instrument and categorisation of local authorities

• APSE Briefing Number 04/27 advised members about the draft Statutory Instrument and draft Government guidance in relation to Trading.
• This briefings confirms that the Statutory Instrument has now been laid before parliament to come into effect on the 29th July 2004 and an additional Statutory Instrument ‘The Local Authorities (Categorisation) (England) Order 2004’ has also been laid before Parliament to come into effect again on the 29th July 2004.

APSE briefing 04/27: Trading guidance consultation

• ODPM publish Draft Statutory Instrument on The Local Government (Best Value) Power to Trade (England) Order 2004 and adjoining guidance on the Power in the Local Government Act 2003
• APSE in response to the ODPM is now consulting member authorities and trade unions on the draft SI and draft guidance