Procurement

The Council spends approximately £90m pa in goods and services. Procurement covers the process by which these are acquired from suppliers and managed throughout their life. Many of the Council’s services are provided directly to citizens by contracted suppliers. Other suppliers contribute by supporting services provided by the Council’s own staff. Either way, procurement is core to achieving the Council’s objectives.

The Byatt Report on local authority procurement “Delivering Better Services to Citizens”, commissioned by the Government and published in June 2001, identified a comprehensive modernisation agenda for council procurement. Bracknell Forest has embraced this via its Best Value Review of Finance, which included a section specifically on procurement making 15 recommendations for change. Following on from this, the Council has appointed a Head of Procurement and approved a Procurement Strategy and Implementation Plan to help deliver these changes in the context of the Council’s Medium Term Objectives. Key to this will be the simplification and automation of procurement–related processes, in particular the development of electronic trading with suppliers wherever possible.

Standard Conditions of Contract have been developed for Council business transactions and will be applicable to Orders placed by the Council.

Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure

The Council has a Whistleblowing policy and gives the staff of suppliers the facility to come forward and voice serious concerns regarding aspects of the Council’s work.