Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Management provided an update on local, regional and national procurement initiatives.  Approval was sought for Flintshire to become a member of the Welsh Procurement Consortium (WPC).

There was considerable focus on procurement at a national level by the Welsh Government (WG) with high expectations for large savings across the Welsh Public Sector. 

At a regional level the North Wales Procurement Partnership (NWPP) had been dissolved and staff from the partnership had been transferred to North Wales councils with management arrangements established for all residual contracts.  Following the dissolution a letter was received inviting the council to become a member of the WPC.

The Head of ICT and Customer Services explained that Flintshire had already committed to be a member of the new Welsh National Procurement Service (NPS) and any duplication should be avoided with the WPC activities.  The NPS accounted for only 20% of the council’s procurement spend which was recognised by the WPC and who would be focussing on categories of spend not covered by the NPS.

In order to continue and build on the procurement progress already made and the current shared management arrangements with Denbighshire it was proposed subject to the full business case to take further formal steps to merge both Corporate Procurement Units.  The model of a collaborative procurement service with Denbighshire would demonstrate a clear commitment to increased collaborative working.

In response to a question on governance arrangements, the Head of ICT and Customer Services explained that there would be one representative from each authority who would be a member of the Board and that would either be a Councillor or a senior officer.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That membership of the WPC be approved and for officers to provide regular reports regarding the consortium activities and savings achieved;

(b)       That the merger of the Flintshire and Denbighshire Procurement Units be supported in principle subject to agreeing final business case and detailed arrangements which will be subject to a separate report to Cabinet; and

(c)        That the further development of the 3 County Procurement Service involving Flintshire, Denbighshire and Gwynedd be supported based upon a category management structure subject to a final business case which will be subject to a separate report to Cabinet.