“At a time when public sector finances are
under increasing pressure, it’s important that we do everything we
can to secure value for money from every pound spent.”
Charles Johnston
Sport England’s Property Director.
Sport England has announced the creation of
five new groups of approved suppliers to help organisations
involved in sport improve the way they plan facilities provision
and drive efficiency savings.
The groups - made up of companies specialising
in town planning, needs analysis and playing fields - mean that
Sport England’s partners can manage procurements quickly and
efficiently, whilst benefiting from reduced rates secured by
competitive tendering.
Sport England set up the groups to drive its
own efficiency savings and ensure continuing high standards of
quality but this is now being opened up to our partners.
The process works in easy steps. After
contacting Sport England and signing up to the scheme, partners are
sent the list of service providers in the relevant group and their
maximum day rates. They are then able to invite the organisations
to bid for the work in a competitive market environment – saving
them time and helping get maximum value for money from their public
investment in sport.
The scheme, known as the “Strategic Planning
Framework for Sport”, mirrors those already in existence in other
major public sector procurement areas such as IT and
construction.
“At a time when public sector finances are
under increasing pressure, it’s important that we do everything we
can to secure value for money from every pound spent,” said Charles
Johnston, Sport England’s Property Director. “That’s why we’re
helping our partners to be more efficient. We want them to get the
best possible advice to ensure that the right facilities are built
in the right places for people to continue to use for years to
come.”
The panels will be available to access in
September. Interested partners should contact Nick Evans at Sport
England on 08458 508 508 or email: planningforsport@sportengland.org
The scheme has the backing of Local
Partnerships. Its chief executive, John Carleton, said:
“As advocates of modern commissioning, Local Partnerships
fully supports the new Framework Agreement put in place by Sport
England. This new approach will greatly support local authorities
and other bodies in the appointment of consultants.”
The five groups are:
Strategic Planning – Offering
similar services to those undertaken for the Facilities Improvement
Service
Needs Assessment – The
undertaking of needs assessments in accordance with PPG 17
Playing Pitch Strategies –
Creating playing pitch strategies in accordance with
Sport England’s playing field guidance.
Town Planning Support –
including planning policy, planning negotiation, submission of
planning applications
Sport Specific Facility
Strategies – production or review of facility strategies
for national governing bodies of sport
Partners who can access the panels are:
- Local authorities
- Regional development agencies
- Urban development corporations
- Urban regeneration companies
- Greater London Authority
- Homes and Communities Agency
- LOCOG
- Partnership for Schools
- County sports partnerships
- Recognised national governing bodies of
sport
For more information,
visit the planning pages of our website or
read the full press release