The Cabinet Member with the Resources Portfolio introduced the report of the Group Director of Operations (previously circulated) requesting that consideration be given to the Annual Procurement Plan (also previously circulated) including the assessment of contracts that are considered to be strategic or non-strategic; updating Members on the outcomes of procurement(s) previously designated as Strategic; and the decisions taken by the Procurement Board to waive the Contract Procedure Rules.
The submitted report stated that any contract award decision with a value below £100,000 was delegated to officers; in accordance with the Contract Procedure Rules, the Annual Procurement Plan was produced listing details of all existing and new contracts that were valued at £100,000 and above, which required a tender process; for those contracts designated as strategic, the final contract award would be approved by the Procurement Board and reported to this Cabinet; for those contracts designated as non-strategic, the decision would be delegated to the relevant Directorate and detailed in a decision record; and stated that three contracts had been designated strategic in the update to the Annual Plan.
Particular reference was made at the meeting to ‘Fair Tax’, which was a means for business to demonstrate good tax conduct; its benefits to the Council in respect of Social Value; and whether this Council would consider making a Fair Tax Declaration. The Cabinet Member with the Resources Portfolio responded thereon.
RESOLVED - (a) That the assessment of strategic and non-strategic contracts as presented in Appendix 1 of the submitted report, be approved, and it be noted that:-
(i) further reports/updates on the procurement process for those contracts designated as strategic (including decisions made by the Procurement Board) be brought to Cabinet;
(ii) contract award decisions for the contracts designated as non-strategic be delegated to the appropriate Directorate, as listed in the plan at Appendix 1 to the submitted report; and
(iii) contract award decisions for the contracts designated as strategic, as listed in the plan at Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be delegated to the Procurement Board and be reported back to Cabinet.
(b) That the contents of the submitted report in respect of the update of strategic procurements, Procurement Board waiver decisions, and Social Value, be noted.
REASONS – (a) In respect of strategic/non-strategic contracts, the recommendations are supported by the following reasons:-
(i) the Contract Procedure Rules require Cabinet to approve the designation of contracts as strategic and non-strategic;
(ii) contracts designated strategic are of high value and high significance in respect of the impact on residents, Health and Safety and public safety; and
(iii) the contracts designated non-strategic are of a lower value and lower significance in respect of the impact on residents and public safety.
(b) In respect of Procurement Board waiver decisions, the recommendations are supported by the following reasons:-
(i) in order to comply with the Contract Procedure Rules;
(ii) to provide Cabinet with information about the decisions made by the Procurement Board; and
(iii) to supplement the reports that are taken to Cabinet about proposed spend over £100,000, that are set out in the Annual Procurement Plan and the in year update to that report.