Decision details

Summary

The Deputy Leader and Finance and Assets Portfolio Holder, reported that the Council’s previous procurement strategy was a combined Sustainable Commissioning and Procurement Strategy which has since been separated into two separate documents with the Commissioning Strategy being approved by Council in 2020 with the Procurement Strategy as a companion piece.

The pressure of the Covid-19 pandemic have reinforced the requirement for the Council to seek Value for Money from their procurement process as well as accountability over being fair and transparent with any invitations to tender. Furthermore, the Strategic Council Plan Priorities mean that there is a shift toward a holistic view of the outcomes of procurement, taking into account sustainability, net carbon neutrality and localism.

During discussion on the item, Members expressed their approval for the report and recognised the importance of social value assessments during the procurement process.

The Legal, Governance and Democracy Lead Specialist (Monitoring Officer) informed Members of the following questions and points raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee:-

What does success look like for Social Value?; and

How will this be measured and how can we know if we have done well in assessing the social value in procurement?

In addition, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee requested that a progress report on how the assessment of social value had progressed in 12 months’ time.

Decision

RESOLVED – That the Procurement Strategy be recommended to Council.

Reasons for Decision

It is expected that Council will ensure Value for Money in the provision of services and improve the efficiency of its procurement activities.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

The only alternative would be to not adopt an updated Procurement Strategy. The 2019 version of the Sustainable Commissioning and Procurement Strategy no longer reflects the Council Plan Priorities and the direction of travel with regards to social value and Zero Net Carbon ambitions.