To enable the Cabinet to consider the recommendations submitted to it by the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee following the scrutiny of procurement and contract management.

RESOLVED that the recommendations made by the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee be considered and that the response of the Assets Portfolio Holder thereto be endorsed.

Cabinet considered the recommendations submitted to it by the Resources and

Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee following that Committee’s scrutiny of the Council’s Procurement and Contract Management.

That Committee had recommended that  -

a)    “will bring the Council’s Contract register up to date as soon as possible; with services across the Council providing the necessary data on contracts held within their respective areas; and

b)    a Social Value Policy for Procurement be produced for consultation with the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee at a future meeting”.

Cabinet also heard the following statement from the Portfolio Holder for Assets.

“Thank you to the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for its review in this area and to the previous Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance being responsible for the Council’s procurement function.  I endorse and support the recommendations from the Committee, the existing arrangement with Essex Council Council’s Procurement Team and the identified wider Shared Procurement Service project reported to Cabinet in March 2023, and I will update Cabinet and Members further throughout the year.  We are committed to the Social Value Policy for Procurement Purposes, and this will form a work-stream for the team with our colleagues across Essex and workshops will be discussed”. 

Having duly considered the recommendations submitted to Cabinet by the Resources & Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee:-

It was moved by Councillor Kotz, seconded by Councillor M Stephenson and:-

RESOLVED that the recommendations made by the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee be  noted and that the response of the Assets Portfolio Holder thereto be endorsed.