A recent procurement ‘fitness check’ carried out at Caerphilly County Borough Council shows that procurement processes at the Authority are in good health.
Auditing giant KPMG conducted the procurement fitness check in January, corresponding with 13 clients about the standards of procurement at the Council. In all, the Council secured a score exceeding the UK benchmark in five of six assessment criteria, with an overall procurement maturity rating of ‘developing towards advanced’.
The report’s findings show that the central focus for procurement at the Council is economic development and supporting local businesses, as well as maximising value for money in procurement and commissioning activities.
KPMG said that procurement staff have embedded processes across the organisation that deliver quality outcomes for internal customers and stakeholders.
The report shows that the Council scored highly on procurement strategy and development, processes for ‘defining supply needs’ are functioning well and the Council excels at contract and supplier management. Feedback from on-line survey respondents and face-to-face interviews also indicates that the Council is proficient in Public Sector Procurement Legislation, while performance management is at an advanced level.
Caerphilly County Borough Council has won numerous awards for procurement excellence over recent years, and successfully engages and collaborates with neighbouring local authorities.
The Council’s recent work with Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council as part of the River Link project, which saw trainees from the Value Wales training programme working on the scheme, came in for particular praise.
Recommend actions resulting from the report include further increasing internal relationships to raise the level of procurement understanding across the organisation.
Cllr Keith Reynolds, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, said: “At a time when cost savings and value for money have never been more important, it’s pleasing that this KPMG report highlights that procurement processes at the Council are in good order.
“We will fully digest and implement the recommended actions contained within the report with a view to improving further.”
