Agenda item

To receive a presentation from Strategic Procurement on Community Benefits and how they link to Procurement and the Economic and Community Ambition Strategy.

 

Strategic Procurement provided a presentation on Community Benefits and how they link to Procurement and the Economic and Community Ambition Strategy.

 

With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation the Acting Strategic Procurement Manager and FCS–Value Wales Representative provided a detailed summary of a presentation on Community Benefits, Delivering Maximum Value for the Welsh Pound, which covered the following salient points and areas:-

 

   Definition of Procurement and Community Benefits

-     Community Policy Benefits Policy/Approach  

 

   Drivers of Community Benefits

-     Programme for Government 2011-2016

-     Wales Anti-Poverty Action Plan

-     Wales Procurement Policy Statement (Dec 2012)

 

What are Community Benefits

-     Development of the link with the Economic and Community Ambition

 

Strategy

-     Community Strategy development and consultation process

-     Main Policy Focus

-     Contribution to Education

-     Environment Impacts

-     North Wales Shared Apprenticeship Scheme

 

Key tools for Community Benefits

-       The Community Benefits Measurement Tool

-     Sustainable Procurement, Contracts and Tendering Procedures   

 

 Economic Priorities

-     Businesses:-  Infrastructure, Promotion, Towns and Communities,

Growth and Skilled Workforce. 

 

 Sustainable Procurement

-     What Denbighshire are Doing

 

 Community Benefits Successes and What Next

-     Community Benefits Success to Date: Statistics

-     Results / Outcomes as of September, 2013

-     Case Study – Yolo Y Hendry – CEW Award 2013 Value Award Winner

 

The Chair invited questions from Members and the following responses were provided by the officers:-

 

-  Councillor J.M. McLellan referred to Welsh Government policy on ethical procurement.  The Acting Strategic Procurement Manager (ASPM) explained that the Council were guided by UK and European procurement regulations, and confirmed that the Welsh Government Procurement Policy Statement would enforce and ensure that equitable processes and procedures were adhered to, which would include the issue of the utilisation of zero hours.  He outlined the procedures adopted for the monitoring of unsuitable or blacklisted contractors and informed Members that, through effective contract management, officers worked closely with contractors and suppliers to ensure that policies and terms and conditions were adhered to.

 

-    Details of collaborative working with neighbouring Authorities were provided.  It was explained that WG guidance on financial regulations had been used to produce a document which could be adapted and utilised by all Authorities.

 

-       The FCS–Value Wales Representative (FCS-VWR) provided details of the application of the Community Benefits Policy in respect of contracts under £2m.   She referred to the North Wales Framework being a key area in relation to smaller businesses, and specifically to the introduction of project bank accounts which addressed issues relating to payment in the supply chain.

 

-               Confirmation was provided that a programme of training would be   provided for Elected Members and officers.

 

-   Private sector developers to be encouraged to encompass the requirements of Community Benefits in any future developments.

 

-               Members were assured that Denbighshire were complying with the agreed terms of contracts with regard to supply payments being made within the stipulated period of 30 days.

 

-               The ASPM confirmed that Denbighshire worked closely with Business Wales to provide support for small businesses.

 

-               The Chief Executive explained that businesses could be assured that Welsh Government would settle invoices but could not provide an assurance that payments would be made within agreed timescales. 

 

-                Councillor E.W. Williams highlighted the problems being experienced in obtaining funding to commence community projects.  He suggested that the Communities Scrutiny Committee consider the possibility of creating a fund to assist with the commencement of projects which had been assured funding.  The ASPM explained that work was currently being undertaken with the Corporate Programme Team to address the issue in question.            

 

During the ensuing discussion, the Chair and Members thanked the officers for their informative presentation.

 

RESOLVED – that Council receives and notes the contents of the presentation.