DEVCO Report Significant Benefits of Working Together
Collaborative working is paying dividends for DEVCO, the first consortium in Wales to work with another consortium. Collaboration with GENuS on a framework agreement for developing new housing, is leading to considerable savings, by avoiding duplication in consultant and contractor procurement.
DEVCO and GENuS have also come together to share best practice in a ground breaking project to implement the new Core Principles for Customer Service for the Welsh Public Service. The successful project was submitted to the Welsh Assembly Government in a bid for the 2007/8 Improvement Fund; awarded for projects that stimulate change that lead to significant improvement in public services for the benefit of the citizen
DEVCO has made considerable progress by collaborative working in other areas. Joint specifications have been developed for planned maintenance. A gas servicing contract worth over £3 million has been awarded to contractors PME, through a collaborative process which also involved tenants of all the member associations. Tenants are also taking part in a unique DEVCO approach to meeting Welsh Housing Quality Standards. A partnership is developing with the BRE to establish joint approach to sustainability in existing housing stock.
DEVCO is committed to using its resources to support the local economy and employment and has awarded a £4 million contract to Vision Products to supply windows. Owned by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, Vision Products is a supported workshop employing 145 disabled people.
The partners in DEVCO are working together to provide care and support and are pleased to be developing an extra care scheme in Rhondda Cynon Taf. The ethos of partnership working permeates the consortium and DEVCO is continually developing relationships with other strategic partnerships such as Heads of the Valleys.
This has been an exciting and challenging time for DEVCO and now that there are measurable outputs also a rewarding time!