Cardiff Council has set out its plan on how to improve the way that it buys goods, services and works.
The Commissioning and Procurement Strategy (2011-2015) was formally launched at the major Capital Cardiff: Investing in Business conference at City Hall yesterday (Wednesday, February 29).
The next three years will see major changes in the way that the Council manages the £300m that it spends annually with over 9,000 external suppliers and contractors to deliver a range of services to the residents of Cardiff.
This money is an important driver of the local economy but also has a significant impact on the regional economy as well.
Cardiff did business with around 2,800 Cardiff companies in 2010/11, spending more than £129m (41 per cent) of its procurement budget with these organisations.
The figure rises to £159m (51 per cent) with organisations in the wider Cardiff region and to more than £179m (57 per cent) of spend with Welsh based organisations.
Under the new Strategy the Council is looking to see the maximum amount of money spent in the local economy, within the parameters of European and UK legislation, whilst ensuring that this approach gives back the best value to the Council.
Changes to the way Cardiff buys goods, services or works will be phased in over a number of years, bringing in new opportunities for local businesses. The Council has established a multi organisational Source Cardiff project to work pro-actively with local small and medium sized businesses and social enterprises during this period of change to maximise their opportunities to secure public contracts both locally and farther afield. The Source Cardiff project will also deliver simplified and standardised procurement processes and procedures together with increased support for local small and medium sized businesses and social enterprises.
Councillor Mark Stephens, Executive Member for Finance and Service Delivery, said: “The Council has always had to demonstrate value for money in the delivery of our services. With increasing budgetary pressures and the need to balance cost reductions against an increasing demand on services, more than ever we need to ensure that the way we work is efficient and effective.
“The new Strategy focuses on meeting the needs of residents and communities, providing them with high quality services while at the same time delivering millions of pounds worth of savings.”
Further information is available on the Commissioning and Procurement Strategy is available on the Council website at www.cardiff.gov.uk/procurement
