Request for Quotation (RFQ)
for the service provision of
Strategic assessment of the tangible benefits and risks of merger(s)/collaboration
between up to four independent organisations in Leicestershire
Quotations are invited for a strategic assessment of the tangible benefits and risks of merger(s)/collaboration between two or more independent organisations in Leicestershire; Communities in Partnership (CIP), Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils (LRALC) , Rural Community Council (RCC) and Voluntary Action Leicestershire (VAL).
This requirement emanates out of one of the themes of the successful Leicestershire Consortium Transforming Local Infrastructure bid which seeks to explore the possibilities of selected organisations merging as well as the options for further collaboration between them. In looking at the implications of these possible changes for each of the organisations, change would be compared with the benefits and risks of a do nothing situation.
The supplier of the RFQ will produce a final report by 28th Aug 2012.
This RFQ is funded by Transforming Local Infrastructure, which Big Fund is delivering on behalf of the Office for Civil Society, Cabinet Office.
Q & A
The following document presents the questions received from interested parties and the responses provided by Jeremy Prescott. Please apprise yourself of this document prior to submitting a question of your own as it may have already been answered.
- RFQ Question and Answer (MS Word, 66 Kb)
Below is a document produced in 2005 that may also answer some of your questions.
- L Shire VCS Infrastructure Study 2005 (MS Word, 874 Kb)
Leicestershire Rural Partnership Big Society Rural Advice Service
Big Society: Rural Advice
The Leicestershire and Rutland Rural Community Council (RCC) is delighted to have been chosen to deliver the Leicestershire Rural Partnership (LRP) Rural Advice Service.
Funded by Leicestershire County Council the service will provide the following support to help progress Big Society initiatives in rural areas:
• Advice and guidance to communities on a range of rural issues
• Specialist advice on community consultation, action planning and project development activity
• Signposting to other organisations and support services that may be able to provide further support and advice in specialist areas
4 Ways to Warmth
The 4 Ways to Warmth scheme is now well underway across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
Supported by a range of partners the scheme will provide advice and guidance to frontline workers and volunteers on:
• insulation, energy saving and measures to keep homes warm and enable vulnerable people to live healthily
• advice on getting the best deal from your energy supplier including priority register for vulnerable people
• accessing handyperson schemes and small grant schemes to fund loft clearance for those eligible for free loft insulation
• support available through First Contact
• recruitment, training and support for a network of volunteer energy Champions
• links to Good Neighbours/nominated neighbours schemes
• provision of information on Fuel Poverty to frontline workers and volunteers.
• support through the First Contact Scheme from statutory agencies and partners
The scheme will also fund the purchase of emergency heating/hot water and winter warmer packs which will be available to vulnerable people across the area.
For more information of awareness events please see the above link or for more information contact dcook@ruralcc.org.uk 0116 2689706
Latest News
The Hugglescote and Donington le Heath Parish Council celebrated their first year in office on Rogation Day, Sunday 13th May 2012.
A church service was held at St John the Baptist Church Hugglescote at 10am and this was followed by a walk of the Parish boundaries, attended by approximately 30 people. Rogation Day traditionally was a solemn procession to invoke God's mercy; the faithful typically observed the Rogation days by fasting in preparation to celebrate the Ascension, and farmers often had their crops blessed by a priest at this time. Last Sunday’s event was a light hearted occasion and everyone was grateful of the warm and sunny morning, the event included the blessing of prominent features including the Hugglescote Bear and Donington le Heath Manor House!
This was followed by an open event at 2pm which was held at the Hugglescote Community Centre, the focal point of this event was the ‘Planning for Real®’ model, a 3D scaled map of the Parish that had been created by the Year 4 children at Hugglescote Community Primary School. The event attracted 74 residents, who were able to chat informally to the Parish Councillors about their aspirations for the Parish. Attendees were also given the opportunity to place cards with their ideas on the model. The ‘Planning for Real®’ map is a great non-confrontational way for residents to express their views and engage hands-on with issues that affect them.
The cards placed by residents will be sorted and prioritised to establish an action plan for the Parish Council.
Refreshments, including cream teas, were served all afternoon by members of the 1188 Squadron Coalville Air Cadets. Other community groups were also given the opportunity to provide displays.
The open event was closed by the cutting of the Parish Council’s ‘1st Birthday’ cake, prior to the start of the Annual Parish Meeting at 4pm.
The popular Rural Action Seminar will take place in the Council Chamber at Leicestershire County Council May 3rd from 5.45.pm when the buffet will be available.
Speakers will include Corin Birchall from Kerching Retail services who will be speaking about the free advice service for Rural Shops funded through the Leicestershire Rural Partnership, Community members from Shepshed introducing their successful Community projects following a community led plan, Katherine Lightbown who can offer free support from professionals such as architects, lawyers surveyers through Pro Help, Polly Rolfe presenting the work of the Community Foundation. The RCC will be updating everyone on the Rural Community Broadband Fund, 4 Ways to Warmth project Energy best Deal and Neighbourhood planning There will be a wealth of information available on sevices that are of interest to the community. Everyone is welcome. To book a place email dcook@ruralcc.org.uk or call 0116 2689706
However classes 5 and 6 at Hugglescote Community Primary School built a scaled model of the Parish of Hugglescote and Donington le Heath in two days! The model making days are part of a ‘Planning for Real®’ event which took place on 17th and 19th April 2012, and follows on from a Community Walk that the RCC took with the same children in March.
Planning for Real® involves the creation of a large scaled (1:500) 3-dimensional model of a neighbourhood, using cardboard cut-outs for buildings pasted onto a base plan fixed to polystyrene or cardboard. In this instance, the model comprises of 26 boards!
Classes 5 and 6 worked very hard and with great enthusiasm! The exercisealso involved the children identifying where their homes were on the map, they traced their journeys, and considered and discussed what they liked about the area they lived in, and what they thought could be done to improve community wellbeing.
The model will be displayed at the Rogation day event at the Hugglescote Community Centre on Sunday 13th May 2012 between 2pm and 4pm, and those attending the event will be encouraged to place suggestion cards on the model indicating what they want to see happen and where (eg playground, less parking, more planting).
With today's increasing focus on locally led regeneration and neighbourhood empowerment, the ‘Planning for Real®’ community planning tool is more relevant than ever before! It’s an eye-catching and fun process that is enjoyed by all and gives stakeholders who have an interest in the future of the area an opportunity to get involved. Planning for Real allows local people to engage hands-on with issues that affect them, and the best part is that there is no upper limit of the number of people that can be involved!