Procurement policy
Increasingly we are expected to deliver more for less in
the current economic climate. The demands on procurement
increases as services look to procure goods and services more
efficiently to meet the changing needs. A recent government report
showed that 57% of efficiencies would come from smarter
procurement.
Below is a copy of the procurement strategy which the
council approved in 2010. This interim strategy tries to
provide direction during this period of change whilst we do
a cross-cutting review our services. We hope you see this
policy as a living document which reflects the changing needs
of the community. It is supported by a procurement improvement
plan. Ask if you need further details.
Since we developed the last strategy, we changed the make
up of our procurement function significantly. We expect
more changes after our thematic reviews under the efficiency
programme. Recently we have had a number of key successes
because of procurement activity:
- Improved achievement in relation to the procurement
efficiencies target set
- Reduced off-contract spend providing better value for the
council and meeting our commitment to contracted suppliers
- Current figures show 50% of spend within the borough and 70%
within the North West in financial year 09/10 year to date.
Comparable data for financial year 06/07 showed 50% across the
North West (source AGMA Spend Analysis Tool (09/10) and Spikes
Cavell (06/07)
- Increased procurement awareness both across the council and
with local suppliers. In 2009 over 300 suppliers attended our
'Think Local' events with more events planned for 2010
Where are we heading?
We focus on delivering value for money while we make sure
we meet the needs of our customers. Working in collaboration
with our partners is key if we are to to deliver more for
less. Thus, the three main aims of this strategy are:
- Deliver customer focused outcomes
- Maximise the potential of our people by providing leadership
and building capacity
- Improve economic, environmental and social opportunities for
our borough by stimulating markets and achieving community
benefits
These aims not only reflect our needs but also compliment the
national procurement strategy and the North West Improvement and
Efficiency Partnership (NWIEP) strategy. The strategy details how
we are going to achieve these aims.
If you have any comments on the strategy or suggestions on how
we can improve the way we procure, please email our Corporate
Procurement team.