Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services introduced a report on the review of the Council’s procurement governance arrangements.

Following the return of the Council’s procurement service from Elevate East London in 2020, officers had commenced a review of the Council’s approach to procurement.  Stemming from that work, a range of improvements had been identified which included the simplification of the multi-layered thresholds and multi-service oversight arrangements, particularly for low level spend, as a means of aiding compliance and enhancing procurement outcomes.

The Assembly resolved to:

(i)   Approve the new procurement governance arrangements as set out in the report, for implementation with effect from 1 April 2022; and

(ii)   Delegate authority to the Strategic Director, Law and Governance, to implement the appropriate amendments to the Council’s Contract Rules and other documents within the Council Constitution to effect the new arrangements.

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services introduced a report on proposals relating to a new, streamlined governance framework for the Council’s procurement activities.

Following the return of the Council’s procurement service from Elevate East London in 2020, officers had commenced a review of the Council’s approach to procurement.  Stemming from that work, a range of improvements had been identified which included the simplification of the multi-layered thresholds and multi-service oversight arrangements, particularly for low level spend, as a means of aiding compliance and enhancing procurement outcomes.  The Cabinet Member explained that the eight existing procurement thresholds would be refined to just three, namely Bronze (up to £25,000), Silver (£25,000 to circa £190,000 (the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 threshold for supply and services contracts)) and Gold (above PCR 2015 threshold). 

It was noted that the new procurement thresholds would not alter the requirement for all contracts with a value over £500,000 to be presented to the Cabinet for prior approval.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Endorse the new approach to the Council’s procurement governance arrangements, as set out in the report; and

(ii)  Note that the Assembly shall be asked to approve the new procurement governance arrangements and subsequent amendments to the Council’s Contract Rules at its meeting on 2 March 2022, for implementation with effect from 1 April 2022.