Procurement
Boring not bad
Sir Bob Neill says this wasn’t a Queen’s Speech packed with surprises, ‘but if dull means getting the job done, let’s welcome the dull’.
Call for clarity on council Hikvision use
Local government minister Michael Gove has been urged to clarify his position on buying surveillance cameras from tech firm Hikvision.
Going in a new direction at Runnymede
Runnymede BC recruits in a small but competitive market, and to operate effectively for residents, and meet modern employees’ expectations, it has been transforming how it works, says Paul Turrell.
EXCLUSIVE: Home Office shuns London housing agreement
The Home Office has refused to commit to signing up to a key agreement governing London boroughs’ procurement of temporary accommodation, The MJ can reveal.
Start-up ends high street service
A start-up that invited councils to create ‘virtual high streets’ allowing residents to order from local businesses has ended the service.
Now's not the time for the UK to roll back on social value
It is too early to follow minister Jacob Rees-Mogg’s suggestion of rolling back the focus on social value and ethical procurement altogether, says Tiia Sammallahti.
The price of morality
Kieran McGaughey looks at the range of issues for councils who are considering terminating their contracts with Gazprom, including the need to look at who will step in to provide the services.
Councils weigh up risks over Gazprom contracts
Councils caught up in energy deals with state-owned Russian gas company Gazprom have been warned they are ‘caught between the proverbial rock and hard place’ when trying to escape agreements.
Sheffield to fund £7m leisure bailout
Sheffield City Council is to provide a £7m bailout to a charity running its leisure venues.
Tightening the squeeze
Gestures, big and small, will continue to be necessary as part of the collective effort to counter Putin’s evil, writes Sir Bob Neill.
We are only at the foothills of what social value can achieve
Chris White was the driving force behind the Social Value Act. Ten years on, he reflects on its original aims and how its principles can be taken to the next phase.
Delay to waste scheme will create 'vacuum of uncertainty'
A scheme to shift the cost of collecting household waste from taxpayers to producers has been delayed by at least a year.
Lessons on procurement from Croydon’s Public Interest Report
In the context of the most recent Public Interest Report on Croydon LBC, Scott Dorling and Louis Sebastian warn of the risks of challenge on the ‘land exemption’ from procurement rules.
The importance of councils’ next digital steps
Digital transformation presents many opportunities for local government, but making the most of the benefits and minimising risks calls for a strategy that meets your customers’ needs, says David Bemrose.
Taking the first steps towards re-imagining our services
Until recently, re-procurement of services was the default approach. 'Now we are seeing an increasing appetite for partial or complete insourcing of functions', says Sean Hanson.
Fresh audit procurement launched
A major procurement of audit services for local government bodies designed to encourage and support the development of a more sustainable market has been launched.
Dromey’s legacy in council history
The recent untimely death of Jack Dromey reminds Michael Burton of the former union leader’s key role in abolishing compulsory competitive tendering and creating Best Value for council services.
Recalling Jack Dromey’s instrumental role in the birth of Best Value
Michael Burton recalls Jack Dromey’s longstanding achievement creating Best Value as Labour Party policy to replace the compulsory competitive tendering of council services introduced by the Conservatives.
Takeaways from the public procurement Green Paper consultation response
A competitive flexible procedure remains at the core of the proposals in the Government’s response to its Green Paper consultation on public procurement transformation, says Rebecca Rees.
There's much for councils to welcome in procurement consultation response
Councils could look at their processes and record keeping to ensure a smooth jump to greater transparency ahead of a new public procurement Bill, says Peter Ware of Browne Jacobson.
