Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:

That proposed changes to Procurement Standing Orders (PSOs) be noted and commended to full Council for final approval at their next meeting on 8 December 2015.

Reasons for Decisions:

To provide support for adoption of the revised Procurement Standing Orders (PSOs) by full Council.

The PSOs have been updated to take account of:

·         The new Public Contract Regulations 2015 (as described in more detail in paragraph 3, part viii)

·         best practice updates for lower value contracts from Lord Young recommendations aiming to making it easier for small and local businesses to tender for contracts

·         the Local Government Transparency Code on publication of data

·         closer alignment of procurement practices to support effective collaboration and partnership working, including extension of the existing partnership with East Sussex County Council whilst still respecting the sovereignty of individual Council requirements

·         improvements to purchasing processes intended to speed up transactions and ensure proper compliance

·         improvements to strengthen contract management and management of contract variations and extensions

·         updates to reflect best practice around electronic invoicing

The Cabinet Member for Business Services and Resident Experience informed Members that the Procurement Standing Orders (PSOs) set out how the Council governs spending by Officers on goods, works and services and form part of the Council’s constitution.

She said that the revision to the PSOs was to take account of recent changes in the law, and to update them to ensure that they reflected best practice, Council priorities and partnership working with East Sussex.

She also signposted Members to the Equality Impact Assessment that had been undertaken.

The Leader of the Council stated that the PSO’s would go to County Council for approval in December.

RESOLVED:

That proposed changes to Procurement Standing Orders (PSOs) be noted and commended to full Council for final approval at their next meeting on 8 December 2015.

Reasons for Decisions:

To provide support for adoption of the revised Procurement Standing Orders (PSOs) by full Council.

The PSOs have been updated to take account of:

·        The new Public Contract Regulations 2015 (as described in more detail in paragraph 3, part viii)

·        best practice updates for lower value contracts from Lord Young recommendations aiming to making it easier for small and local businesses to tender for contracts

·        the Local Government Transparency Code on publication of data

·        closer alignment of procurement practices to support effective collaboration and partnership working, including extension of the existing partnership with East Sussex County Council whilst still respecting the sovereignty of individual Council requirements

·        improvements to purchasing processes intended to speed up transactions and ensure proper compliance

·        improvements to strengthen contract management and management of contract variations and extensions

·        updates to reflect best practice around electronic invoicing