English local government spends on average £50 BILLION each year with contractors / providers on third party services, systems, and goods. This is acquired from everything from large multinationals to social enterprises and micro-businesses. Much of this spend has been secured under the EU Public Procurement Directives which were mainly driven by economic considerations (cost and quality). The initial goal of introducing greater competition into the EU’s single market, set by Paulo Cecchini in the late 1980s, rapidly became an exercise in tick box compliance and excessive bureaucracy.
In December 2020, the Government published a Green Paper, Transforming Public Procurement setting out an agenda for change in the light of Brexit. Flexibility and lighter touch are the watch words as is the rethinking of value. Value is not just about cost and quality – it is also about the impact these decisions have on local communities and economies, including matters such as social value / regeneration, sustainability and inclusion and diversity. These issues, and more feature in the priorities of all local authorities in the East of England and beyond.
EELGA Talent Bank Associate, Ken Cole, has been a leading light in driving and promoting these changes. He is an author of the LGA’s 2018 National Procurement Strategy that is directed at rethinking how we define value and encouraging local authorities to focus on “what matters to them”. Commissioning, procurement and contract and relationship management are all part of the same process where successful outcomes are paramount.
This Webinar sets out how local authorities can help be a part of rethinking value.
This will help them to:
- Define what matters to their communities
- Set their own priorities, standards and agendas
- Use proven, cost effective and flexible diagnostic tools (which EELGA already has) to drive and measure change
This webinar will provide you with insight and the practical tools to strengthen your councils’ ability to manage contracts with greater confidence and increase both commercial and social value.
Who should attend:
- Elected Members
- Chief Executives
- Heads of Service
- Directors of Resources
- Budget holders
- Commissioners
If you have any queries, please contact Jayne Cole, Events Co-Ordinator, East of England LGA, email: [email protected] tel: 07500 769751
