Agenda item

To receive a report seeking approval for the Authority’s Procurement Plan 2023/2024 to proceed with the relevant procurement exercises (as detailed in Appendix 1) throughout the financial year and award contracts in accordance with UK public procurement legislation to the most advantageous tenders.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval to the Authority’s Procurement Plan 2023-2024 to proceed with the relevant procurement exercises throughout the financial year and award contracts in accordance with UK public procurement legislation to the most advantageous tenders.

The Authority continued to spend a considerable sum on third party goods and services. The Authority’s Constitution required that prior to any procurement commencing which exceeded £500,000 Cabinet approval must be obtained.

Carrying out robust tendering exercises ensured that the Authority received the best value for money.  Given the wide range of services the3 Authority delivered, some key tender exercises this financial year would be procurement of an operator for the Rising Sun Country Farm, tenders for adults and children’s specialist services, together with the procurement of new build housing.

The contracts identified in Appendix 1 to the report would require procurement exercises to be commenced in financial year 2023/24.  These procurement exercises would continue to encourage bids from small businesses and would require at least one greener commitment to be made to support the Authority’s target to be carbon net-zero by 2030.  These tender exercises would include social value to support the Authority’s five key themes of the Our North Tyneside Plan.

The Authority adopted its Procurement Strategy in March 2022, and details of the procurements process was set out in paragraph 1.5.2 of the report. Consultation prior to commencing a procurement with the relevant Cabinet Member was key, this would ensure that the Authority’s priorities were achieved through its contracting arrangements.  An evaluation team consisting of subject matter experts and the procurement team would evaluate each bid received against the published award criteria and in accordance with UK public procurement legislation. Prior to award of any contact, the evaluation result would be provided to the relevant Director of Service to approve the award  together with financial assurance that the contract value would remain within existing budgets.

The Authority updated its Social value priorities in March 2022 and work was ongoing to develop a process, as part of the procurement and contract management actively, to monitor and manage social value throughout a contract lifecycle.  Social value requirements had been an important aspect of the procurement process since the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, and this had directly resulted in benefits for communities across the borough as set out in paragraph 1.5.5 of the report.

Social value commitments had been monitored closely which had resulted in several positive social value achievements from projects across the borough.  This had included charity gift donations, attending career events within the borough, grant funding for local Voluntary, Community spaces around North Tyneside.  Further details of which were set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

The Authority had a Responsible Procurement Charter attached at Appendix 3 to the report, this sets out the Authority’s expectations of its supply chain to ensure that the Authority was a responsible buyer.  As a large organisation, the Authority could use its strength working with businesses who shared North Tyneside Council’s values and objectives.  It was therefore recommended that the Authority’s Responsible Procurement Charter was amended to provide a commitment to those businesses confirming that North Tyneside Council would work together and coordinate relationships between key businesses in the borough.

Cabinet considered the following decision options:

Option1: To approvetherecommendations setout inparagraph1.2 to carry out the necessary procurement exercises during the 2023/2024 financial year and approve the proposed amendments to the Responsible Procurement Charter.

Option2: To not approvethe recommendations and continue to consider individual reports for each package of works and/or services. This may delay implementation of essential services and works being carried out.

Resolved that (1) the procurement of the goods and services as detailed in

Appendix 1 of the report, be approved;

(2) the key achievements in social value for the borough via procurement

activity carried out in 2023 as set out at Appendix 2, be noted;

(3) the amendments to the Responsible Procurement Charter as set out in

Appendix 3, be approved;

(4) the relevant Director in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member, Director of Resources and the Head of Law, be authorised to commence the procurements identified and award contracts to those bidders who submit the most advantageous tenders in accordance with UK public procurement legislation.

(Reason for decision:The Authority has a duty to obtain value for money. Tendering the opportunities identified in the report will meet the priorities contained within the Procurement Strategy and Our North Tyneside Plan.)