tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026109189953131377.post859704228819558101..comments2023-10-01T11:22:42.426+01:00Comments on The Commonty: Public spending: it ain’t just about efficienciesThe Commontyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11779226061470567913noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026109189953131377.post-91449243579280407602014-03-31T14:20:02.251+01:002014-03-31T14:20:02.251+01:00fascinating stuff Richard....and yet another remin...fascinating stuff Richard....and yet another reminder of the amazing breadth of skills and talents we have in the region....should we all stand as councillors in the next election??!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026109189953131377.post-61126933060491457952014-03-31T12:29:49.076+01:002014-03-31T12:29:49.076+01:00The report referred to relates only to Engalnd and...The report referred to relates only to Engalnd and Wales. Scotland is leading the UK in the use of 'community benefit clauses' in public procurement - at both Government and local authority levels, and this will be further advanced by new Scottish Government legislation - see my forthcoming report Tackling Poverty Through Public Procurement (Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 28th April 2014). My early attempts to get D&G Council to embrace the community benefits approach failed: but maybe thay are now involved.<br /><br />For the arts in D&G we should note that it is only in the post-D&G Arts Association era that the Council has recognised its duty to comply with procurement legislation in relation to the award of funding for arts activities. Also, the Chamber of Arts is regarded as a public 'contracting authority' in relation to any commissioning that it does. Through the Chamber of Arts and the Regional Arts Hub we have the opportunity to develop an arts commissioning strategy for the Region which the Chamber recommends to the Council and implements where it manages public funds. Key elements of this should be:<br /><br />- equality between bidders in terms of access to information and the assessment of bids;<br />- opportunities for smaller bidders (by splitting larger projects into 'lots', and minimising 'entry <br /> requirements'); and <br />- providing adequate time for the preparation of bids: this is especially important for social and voluntary organisations that don't have professional staff, and bids where partnerships need to be formed.<br /><br />However, the development of an arts commissioning strategy will raise some issues on which there may not be easy agreement within the arts community. For example, the balance between funding the arts as an economic development activity and funding activities that serve the resident population - e.g. arts provision for young people in the Region. <br /><br />Richard Macfarlane. Business Manager - The Bakehouse.Richard Macfarlane, The Bakehousehttp://www.rmacfarlane.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026109189953131377.post-90669916829520164872014-03-30T10:46:53.256+01:002014-03-30T10:46:53.256+01:00One of the key themes in this article is about ...One of the key themes in this article is about 'creating great places' - arts and culture play a big part in what makes a great place.<br />As the debate about how to use increasingly scarce public resources intensifies it could be important that we in the arts continue to make the case for a the big picture of the society and places we want to live in....and this means fighting for ways that local authorities spend our money that are not simply bean-counting exercises. We need partnership and trust not box-ticking?The Commontyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11779226061470567913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026109189953131377.post-63917981959660968992014-03-30T00:14:53.028+00:002014-03-30T00:14:53.028+00:00uhrr . . . is this about the arts?
nice photo of ...uhrr . . . is this about the arts?<br />nice photo of supermarket trolley dash though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com