Decision details

To consider the procurement pipeline and delegation of authority to award contracts.

Decision:

1.        To approve the procurement procedures listed in Appendix 1 to the report submitted to the Executive.

2.        To delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Finance and Resources to proceed to procurement in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Finance and Property where there have been minor financial adjustments to the anticipated costs, or proposed minor changes to the timescales, as set out in Appendices 1 and 2.

3.        To delegate authority to award the contracts as listed in the final column of the table in Appendix 2 to the report.

Reasons:

1.        Executive authority is required to approve all key decisions with financial consequences of £200,000 or more. It is good governance therefore to provide Executive with a summary of all proposed forthcoming procurements, that individually are estimated to amount to a total value of £200,000 or more, prior to procurement procedures formally commencing.

2.        Planning procurement activity ensures:

·      effective stakeholder management

·      effective procurement and sourcing

·      compliance with relevant procurement legislation and the Council’s own Contract Procedure Rules

·      how best value is to be achieved is clearly defined including how contract management will ensure that the Council attains best value during the life of the contract.

3.        As Executive authority is required in respect of the award of any contract above £200,000, Appendix 2 to the report recommends three approaches to signing off such contracts:

·      Executive

·      Delegation to Portfolio Holder and S151 Officer

·      Delegation to S151 Officer

4.        The proposals in the report will avoid the need to submit multiple individual requests for approval to procure and award contracts, therefore being more agile in the approval process in relation to procurement activity.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

None.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.