Procurement
Why COVID-19 has changed the way you should sell surplus
Online marketplace adoption accelerates higher returns from surplus assets
What does the new NPPS mean for councils?
Local authorities should start to look at how the National Procurement Policy Statement can be implemented across their organisations, say Rebecca Rees and Stuart Brown.
Significant procurement challenges lie ahead for districts
Procurement is likely to involved significant challenges for district councils now and in the years ahead, says Ian Miller. 'It remains to be seen whether national or local priorities will govern councils' purchases'.
Transforming Glasgow into a world-class smart city
Cllr Angus Millar explains how a new single-supplier contract for a full fibre network marks a huge step forward in delivering significant benefits to Glasgow – giving the council cutting-edge technological capability.
Somerset CC to open up to 10 new children's homes
Somerset CC is to open up to 10 new children’s homes by 2026, admitting it is too reliant on larger for-profit providers in children’s social care.
Audit firms to be wooed
Audit appointment chiefs have launched a bid to attract more firms to the local government market from April 2023.
Are you missing out on the re-sale revolution?
Finlo Corrin of Liquidity Services looks at why online marketplaces deliver higher returns from surplus assets.
What next for the social care market?
Martin Samuels sets out five principles we can draw on in creating a sustainable market in social care and says we must not allow fear to stop us moving forward.
Councils call for procurement freedom
Removal of red tape during the COVID-19 pandemic has shown what can be done, officers have told the House of Lords' Public Services Committee.
A change of direction
Léonie Cowen says there is a better model for the procurement of placements for looked after children, and she outlines how to achieve this using a collaborative Department for Education-funded approach she believes is unique.
Early payment systems provide expanded social value
Early payments will be an essential building block as we exit lockdown, and local government has been leading the way, says Ben Jackson.
Grenfell council's procurement ban on tower block firms
Kensington and Chelsea LBC said it held ‘doubts about the integrity’ of the firms following evidence heard at the Grenfell Tower fire inquiry.
Can the CMA make us see our market folly?
Kathy Evans outlines why the CMA’s investigation into the private provision of placements for looked-after children may ‘bring decisive insight to our care market folly’.
Let's make sure Transforming Public Procurement delivers beyond SW1
We shouldn’t allow Greensill to distract us from asking what needs to change centrally to release the true value of economic, social and community value at the level of place in the commissioning and delivery of public services, says Jonathan Werran.
A blueprint for efficiency
The Government’s Construction Playbook was designed to streamline public sector procurement. Stephen Beechey says it has made waves in the industry, and here he outlines how it can help councils build back better.
The potential of new social value measures is huge
The impact of the UK Government’s new social value measures should not be underestimated, as they prioritise what’s important, according to David Dinsdale.
We want to make council procurement faster, fairer and more efficient
Consultation on the Transforming Public Procurement Green Paper closes today. Sam Rowbury says it's time to 'take maximum advantage of this opportunity to overhaul our outdated procurement regime'.
Rethinking for reset and recovery
What can be learned from the pandemic to improve how local government services are delivered? Nick Cole looks at how corporate colleagues have risen to the challenge and offers some tips to local leaders.
Fears of extra burdens from procurement proposals
New procurement rules could pile extra burdens onto councils, the Local Government Association (LGA) has privately warned.
Procurement in the time of pandemic
One of the largest studies into how the annual £100bn local government procurement spend is being dispensed during the pandemic has just been launched. Its project director Dr Richard Simmons outlines the study’s aims.
