Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Executive Director Finance, Resources and Customer Services proposing revisions to the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules.  (Report No: 101)

Council is asked to agree the revised procedure rules as recommended by the Audit and Risk Management Committee on 1 November 2017. 

Councillor Maguire moved and Councillor Dogan seconded a report of the Executive Director Finance, Resources and Customer Services reviewing the Council’s contract procedure rules.  (Report No: 101)

NOTED

1.               The changes proposed had been agreed and recommended for approval to Council by the Audit and Risk Management Committee at their meeting on 1 November 2017. 

2.               The revised rules comply with legal requirements, reflect changes made as a result of the establishment of the new procurement and commissioning hub, reduce the number of pages, make the rules simpler and easier to read, include the addition of an index and use plain English.  The attached guidance spell out the rules in a simple form.  The rules will ease understanding and make complying with the relevant legislation easier. 

3.               The whole hearted support of the Opposition for the new rules because of concerns about the way contracts had been let in the past but also concern:

·         That the rules would be worthless if they are not properly enforced. 

·         About the use of waivers which although going down were still felt to be too high. 

·         About the use of framework contracts where separate tenders were not required. 

4.               The response that number of waivers obtained had dropped substantially in the past few years for which officers were to be congratulated.  At the last meeting of the Audit and Risk Management Committee only two waivers had been reported.  Rules and regulations were felt to be working. 

AGREED to approve the changes to the Council’s contract procedure rules for inclusion within the Council’s constitution.