Issue - meetings

The Council’s “Think Local” Corporate Procurement Strategy was launched in October 2013. A key aim of the Strategy is to support local small businesses whilst demonstrating that the Council is obtaining Best Value from its procurement processes. The Council intends to use Social Value legislation along with existing powers to support the delivery of the Strategy.

Wera Hobhouse (North East Somerset Liberal Democrats) in an ad hoc statement welcomed the proposals as a very good way to ensure that local businesses were encouraged.  She referred to the statement in the report which said that it was not possible to ascertain the level of sub-contracting to local businesses; and she suggested that the Council should attach conditions when awarding contracts.

Councillor David Bellotti, proposing the item, said that the strategy which had been launched in October 2013 had already increased local procurement from 33% to 35%.  He referred to Section 10 of the Guide and observed that the threshold of £25K would be increased to £50K.  He highlighted the “Meet the Buyer” events, especially in the NE Somerset rural areas.  He emphasised that Cabinet had discouraged the aggregation of small contracts into larger ones, which did not facilitate local procurement.

Councillor Bellotti referred to paragraph 5.4 of the report in which it was laid out that the guidance encouraged suppliers not to use zero hours contracts.  He asked contractors to align with the Council on this.

Councillor Ben Stevens seconded the proposal.  He had been delighted that the council was at the cutting edge of bringing benefit to the local economy.  He was thrilled that Appendix 3, the Social Value Policy, would build on what had already been achieved.

Councillor David Dixon said that he had found the “Selling To the Council” guide very easy to read and understand.  He welcomed the knock-on effect that the policy was having on local independent businesses.

Councillor Dine Romero felt that the benefits would be felt across the authority and emphasised that the measures must cut across all of the Council’s services.

Councillor Simon Allen said that the strategy was having an excellent impact across the community in both economic and mental health wellbeing terms.

Councillor David Bellotti in summing up said that the contribution made by Richard Howroyd, Acting Procurement Manager, had been outstanding.  He referred to the positive feedback from a number of local businesses following the Meet the Buyer events.

On a motion from Councillor David Bellotti, seconded by Councillor Ben Stevens, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To NOTE the progress report on implementing the Councils “Think Local” Procurement Strategy;

(2) To NOTE the intention to revise the Council’s Contract Standing Orders to reflect the implementation of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and other legislation, including Revising financial limits to provide local businesses with the opportunity to obtain contracts up to £50,000;

(3) To NOTE the draft Selling to the Council Guide; and

(4) To ADOPT the Social Value Policy to ensure that the Council meets its statutory requirements under the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012.