Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 October 2013 were signed as a true record.

There were no matters arising.

Report of the Executive Director, Procurement

The Scrutiny Board received a report of the Executive Director, Resources, which was a summary of progress against the strategy and made suggestions for further development of the strategy.  The document had been approved by Cabinet Member (Strategic Finance and Resources) in June 2010.  The same strategy had also been adopted by Solihull and Warwickshire Councils with a view to working as a shared procurement service with the resultant benefits of reduction in duplication of effort, economies of scale and increased purchasing power.

The Board questioned officers on a range of issues, including:

·  how savings targets are set and monitored, including savings targets which are allocated directly against the Commissioning and Procurement FSR and other savings targets to which procurement activity contributes;

·  the effectiveness of governance arrangements and the extent of compliance;

·  how we can ensure procurement activity supports local jobs and companies within the legislative framework, including when subcontracting is involved;

·  how equality and diversity can be addressed in procurement activity and how the Social Value Policy will support this; and

·  how cost and quality considerations are balanced in decision-making

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Coordinator would provide a briefing note which outlined the issues discussed to accompany the report to Cabinet Member (Strategic Finance and Resources) at his meeting on 2 December 2013

Report of the Chief Executive

The Board considered a briefing note from the Chief Executive’s Directorate which gave an overview of Coventry’s approach to social value.  In order to comply with the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, the Council had developed a draft Social Value Policy, which set out how it would deliver social value through its commissioning and procurement activities, and set out priorities in relation to social value.

Consultation on the draft policy had commenced on 28 October 2013 and was scheduled to finish on 20 December 2013.  The Board questioned officers about managing the links between the Social Value Policy and the Procurement Strategy, particularly in relation to ensuring equity and equality in holding contractors to account.  They also asked for clarification on the status of the Value for Money Policy in the context of the abc Programme.

RESOLVED that officers would circulate a briefing note to the Board which updated the wording around equality and diversity to ensure clarity of purpose, and to confirm the status of the Value for Money Policy within the context of the abc Programme.

Outstanding issues have been picked up in the Work Programme

Outstanding issues had been picked up in the Work Programme.

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The work programme was noted. 

Any other items of public business which the Chair decides to take as matters of urgency because of the special circumstances involved

There were no additional items of business.

The Board evaluated the meeting.