The Mayor noted and agreed the reasons for urgency, as provided in the report submitted.

DECISION

1.    Note the high-level changes to procurement regulations as derived from the Procurement Act 2023, outlined in section 3.15 of the report.

2.    Note the changes to procurement regulations for Health and Social Care contracts as derived from the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) which came into effect in January 2024, outlined in section 3.10 of the report.

3.    Support the transformation plan to redefine the Procurement function across the Council; to be an exemplary model of best practice and better enable compliance with the new government legislations.

4.    Support the proposed hub-and-spoke structure for managing procurement, to align with the Council’s draft Target Operating Model. This restructuring aims to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, whilst maximising value for the Council.

Action by

CORPORATE DIRECTOR RESOURCES (J. LORRAINE)

Director of Finance, Procurement and Audit (A. Kassim)

The Mayor noted and agreed the reasons for urgency, as provided in the report submitted.

Councillor Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cost of Living introduced the report that provided a progress update on the Procurement Transformation Programme to significant procurement failures and historical challenges that have left the Council exposed to undue risk and service failure and to ensure full and exemplary compliance with the new Procurement Act 2023 and the NHS Provider Selection Regime.

Further to paragraph 3.5, the Chief Exeucitvve expressed his thanks  to the Corporate Director, Resources and her team preparing this at pace.

The Mayor and Cabinet welcomed the report which they felt modernised the Council’s financial and procurement processes whilst addressing many of the historical failings on previous administration which had left the Council exposed to serious risks.

RESOLVED that the Mayor in Cabinet:

1. Note the high-level changes to procurement regulations as derived from the Procurement Act 2023, outlined in section 3.15 of the report.

2. Note the changes to procurement regulations for Health and Social Care contracts as derived from the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) which came into effect in January 2024, outlined in section 3.10 of the report.

3. Support the transformation plan to redefine the Procurement function across the Council; to be an exemplary model of best practice and better enable compliance with the new government legislations.

4. Support the proposed hub-and-spoke structure for managing procurement, to align with the Council’s draft Target Operating Model. This restructuring aims to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, whilst maximising value for the Council.