Issue - meetings

To consider a report by Councillor Julie Matthews, Lead Member for Corporate Strategy, Policy and Equalities (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet approval of the updated Denbighshire Procurement Strategy.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      confirms that it had read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix 2 to the report) as part of its consideration, and

(b)      approves the updated Procurement Strategy (Appendix 1 to the report) that supports Denbighshire’s priorities and wellbeing goals, and its role in Denbighshire’s preparation for upcoming public procurement regulations changes.

Councillor Julie Matthews presented the report seeking Cabinet approval of the updated Denbighshire Procurement Strategy.

The report introduced the new and updated Denbighshire Procurement Strategy needed to reflect and support the current corporate priorities and wellbeing goals, and to align to the upcoming UK Government Procurement Bill and the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act.  The new legislation sought to ensure both value for money and socially responsible procurement and there were also opportunities to support the Council’s corporate priorities.

The Strategy included three specific outcomes for the Council to –

·       improve the contribution its procurement activity had on the local economy

·       work in partnership with its supply chain to achieve a 35% reduction in carbon emissions to contribute to the aim of a net zero public sector by 2030

·       achieve value for money from the goods and services it procured

The Interim Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services and Collaborative Procurement and Framework Manager highlighted the key areas of the Strategy.

Cabinet welcomed the Strategy and positive opportunities it presented, particularly with regard to local businesses and increasing local spend, engaging in social partnerships, reducing carbon emissions, addressing the wellbeing agenda, and working with regional partners.  Given the wealth of changes the Leader advocated member training and engagement.  Officers agreed a Member Workshop could be arranged, which would be particularly useful for Cabinet given their responsibilities for awarding contracts, to better understand the new requirements.

Cabinet discussed various aspects of the Strategy with officers who elaborated on the advantages of local procurement and initiatives such as “Meet the Buyer” event in order to engage with local businesses to build capacity and confidence in the local market and ensure they were best placed to bid for and win contracts.  In addition, the new legislation provided a flexible procedure which would enable the Council to support the local supply chain and ensure it placed local suppliers in the best position possible to bid.  Cabinet was also pleased to note that the Strategy would support a number of themes in the corporate plan, including a prosperous Denbighshire, a greener Denbighshire, and a well-run, high performing Council.  Councillor Gill German was proud that the Welsh Government had taken the lead in this process with the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      confirms that it had read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix 2 to the report) as part of its consideration, and

(b)      approves the updated Procurement Strategy (Appendix 1 to the report) that supports Denbighshire’s priorities and wellbeing goals, and its role in Denbighshire’s preparation for upcoming public procurement regulations changes.