From 1st April 2010 new national procurement arrangements will become effective which will mean that voluntary / third sector organisations (receiving financial support from their local authority) can join the national Procurement scheme. Some community groups - particularly village hall associations had previously benefited from lower rate electricity through The Highland Council but these existing contracts will now be redundant - and groups may incur higher rates if they don't sign up to the new procurement process.

From 1st April the Highland Council will be participating in Procurement Scotland’s supply contracts.  Procurement Scotland have contracted with Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE - formerly known as Scottish Hydro Electric) for the supply of electricity to all public body sites which are considered to be “ non-half-hourly “ – i.e. the vast majority of sites throughout Scotland.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEW CONTRACT
Under the terms of the contract between Procurement Scotland and SSE, village halls and other voluntary/ third sector organisations receiving financial support from the Council will need to:-
• Sign an Agency Agreement with Procurement Scotland
• Provide Procurement Scotland with detailed information about their site 
 
SIGN UP NOW

Groups can only participate from 1st April for each year of the SSE contract.  This means that any organisation which wishes to sign an Agency Agreement for the financial year starting from 1st April 2010 will need to do this NOW. Groups which are not in a position to make this decision will still be able to sign an Agreement during the course of the year but the benefits will not become active until the following 1st April 2011. 
 
The initial contact for halls or other organisations wishing to participate in the Procurement Scotland contract is Scott McLeish  phone 0141 242 5625 or email  scott.mcleish@scotland.gsi.gov.uk 
 
Alternatively, organisations can access the Procurement Scotland website directly to download the Agency Agreement and templates directly
 
FOR GROUPS WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY SIGNED UP TO THE SCHEME WITH HIGHLAND COUNCIL
Please note that organisations in the existing electricity scheme need to be aware of “Out of Contract” rates with effect from 1st April.  It is understood that SSE will apply these rates to organisations which do not wish to participate in the new supply arrangements and do not enter into a new stand-alone contract either with SSE or an alternative electricity supplier.  These rates are generally regarded as penalising and it very much is in the organisation’s best interests to formalise a contract with a supplier to avoid this situation.
 
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you have any general queries about the information contained in this circular please contact Brian Tinker, Principal Contracts Officer, The Highland Council on 01463 703991 email brian.tinker@highland.gov.uk