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Delivery plan for sustainable procurement and operations across Government launched

Released on 07/08/2008

Tom Watson has today been appointed to take the lead on improving the way Government can achieve sustainable operations and procurement objectives across departments.

Building on the recent announcement to slash the energy consumption of government computers and data centres, the Cabinet Office Minister publishes a detailed delivery plan to achieve more sustainable operations across Whitehall.

The delivery plan has been compiled by the new Centre of Expertise in Sustainable Procurement (CESP), which is based within the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), in conjunction with departments. 

It focuses on the actions that have to be made in order to meet the targets set for Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate.   As Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, Tom Watson will lead and ensure CESP has a cross-departmental role that delivers on sustainable targets.

Speaking about the plan, Tom Watson said:  'A lower carbon economy is probably the single biggest issue facing us all today, and Government has a crucial leadership role in limiting the effects of climate change.

'That is why we have set ourselves targets to deliver carbon reductions from our offices, our cars, waste, recycling and water consumption.'

Nigel Smith, Chief Executive of the Office of Government Commerce, said: 'This plan marks significant progress for Government.  We recognise that there is still a long way to go for Government to achieve its sustainability goals; but departments are to be congratulated on a very real step forward, both in terms of the actions they have initiated, and in ensuring that there is a much clearer and more comprehensive picture of the impact of those actions.  This means we can now identify much more readily where we need to concentrate more effort in the future.'

The Sustainable Development Commission commented:  'Overall, the plan represents the most thorough and robust package produced by Government to date for addressing the impact of its own operations and for inspiring change in the public and private sectors.  Although there is much more work to do on the plan before the SDC can be fully satisfied that it supports delivery of all the changes needed, the OGC and other Government departments should be commended for pulling the plan together in such a short timescale.'

The Government has already set in place a number of initiatives to assist departments in meeting the targets, including producing guidance on how the £160 billion spent on public sector goods and services can safeguard the environment. The High Performing Property initiative is also improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the management and use of Government estate, to achieve more sustainable operations and achieve savings of up to £1.5 billion by 2013.

The Plan also sets out a number of mechanisms which departments can introduce and engage with to make significant reductions with immediate effect including:

  • The recently launched Greening Government Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiative - including IT management systems to assist the switching off of PCs when not in use to save energy.
  • Supporting sustainability through the adoption of procurement frameworks and shared services; 
  • The estate rationalisation programme and programmes to encourage more efficient workspace use;

Alongside the delivery plan OGC has also published a set of guidelines for departments on the scope and requirements of the Sustainable Operations for the Government Estate (SOGE) targets.  This guidance outlines what actions departments should be taking to improve and report performance.

Notes to Editors

1. Centre of Expertise in Sustainable Procurement (CESP)
The 2007 Budget announced the creation of a Centre of Expertise in Sustainable Procurement (CESP) within the OGC.  This centre forms a key part of the Government's response to the Sustainable Development Commission's (SDC) 6th Annual Sustainable Development in Government (SDiG) report.  The CESP is designed to help promote sustainability through the integration of Government procurement and the Government estate.  The Centre will also provide stronger central coordination of performance management, as well as guidance and support to help departments develop the capability to deliver the Government's sustainability commitments.

2. Government's SOGE and SPAP targets
In June 2006 the Prime Minister announced Sustainable Operations for the Government Estate (SOGE) targets (PDF, 574KB) to which all Government departments and Executive Agencies have signed up to achieving, including carbon and waste reduction, and energy and water efficiencies. The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) reports progress against these targets annually, through the Sustainable Development in Government (SDiG) process.

The UK Government Sustainable Procurement Action Plan is a package of actions announced in March 2007 to deliver the step change needed to ensure that supply chains and public services will be increasingly low carbon, low waste and water efficient, respect biodiversity and deliver wider sustainable development goals.  The Action Plan forms the Government's key response to the report of the business-led Sustainable Procurement Task Force.

3. Delivery plan
The delivery plan (PDF, 1,179KB) brings together a set of milestones and trajectories from across central Government departments for the achievement of the SOGE and SPAP targets.  They reflect latest estimates of departmental performance, but will be revised when data for 2007-8 is finalised, and to reflect the further development of departmental plans.  The trajectories and milestones, and the delivery plan itself where necessary, will be revised every 6 months.

In ensuring the implementation of the delivery plan, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Angela Eagle, will be working very closely with Cabinet Minister Tom Watson who will lead on ensuring co-ordination across Whitehall of the Government's work on sustainable operations and sustainable procurement; and with ministers at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on issues of policy.

4.    About the Office of Government Commerce
The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is an independent office of HM Treasury, established to help Government deliver best value from its spending.  The OGC works with central Government departments and other public sector organisations to ensure the achievement of six key goals:

  • Delivery of value for money from third party spend;
  • Delivery of projects to time, quality and cost, realising benefits;
  • Getting the best from the Government's £30bn estate;
  • Improving the sustainability of the Government estate and operations, including reducing carbon emissions by 12.5% by 2010-11, through stronger performance management and guidance;
  • Helping achieve delivery of further Government policy goals, including innovation, equality, and support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs);
  • And driving forward the improvement of central Government capability in procurement, project and programme management, and estates management through the development of people skills, processes and tools.

OGC provides policy standards and guidance on best practice in procurement, projects and estate management, and monitors and challenges departments' performance against these standards, grounded in an evidence base of information and assurance.  It promotes and fosters collaborative procurement across the public sector to deliver better value for money and better public services; and it provides innovative ways to develop Government's commercial and procurement capability, including leadership of the Government Procurement Service.

Media Contact:
Michael Dunning
OGC Press Office
T: 020 7271 1318
F: 020 7271 1345
M: 07771 815245
E: michael.dunning@ogc.gsi.gov.uk

 

Contact details:
OGC Service Desk
Tel: 0845 000 4999
E-mail: ServiceDesk@ogc.gsi.gov.uk

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