Agenda item

Councillor Andy Hull, Executive Member Finance and Performance was present, together with Steve Key, the Service Director Finance.

During consideration of the report the following main points were made –

·         The Executive Member stated that he encouraged Trade Unions to notify him of instances if they felt contractors or sub-contractors were not paying the LLW

·         It was noted that the threshold in the Procurement rules that triggers the requirement for competitive tenders has been raised. In addition it is being looked at as to whether the threshold could be set higher for certain procurements so that voluntary organisations could benefit from a ‘light touch’ approach where it may be possible to reduce the tender burden on certain services within this categorisation

·         In relation to paragraph 3.4 it was noted that the issue of social value in housing contracts had been raised as an issue and that the issue of sub -contractors needed to be clarified. It was stated that there were social value champions on the Procurement Board and that the issue of payment of LLW to sub-contractors could be clarified in terms of the relevant legislation. It was stated that information could be supplied detailing some of the instances of where challenges had been made by the Procurement Board

·         In relation to local suppliers reference was made to how many of LBI’s suppliers were based in the borough and it was stated that this information would be provided to Members

·         In response to a question it was stated that data on the use of LBI consultants, as opposed to agency staff, in the past few years be provided to Members together with the strategy to reduce this by 2020

·         Reference was made as to whether when commissioners drew up packages of work this is co-ordinated to draw together similar schemes and it was stated that this is being looked at

·         In response to a question it was stated that the Resident Impact Assessment was not relevant on this particular report, however these are included in each individual procurement report and that an example could be provided to Members

·         It was stated that with regard to domiciliary care that all staff now received the LLW and that they were paid for travelling time and the Council were leading the way on social care provision resulting in a more content and stable workforce

·         Reference was made to the tendering for capital works and that the Leaseholders Association often complained that the procurement process was based on a schedule of rates and following the tender award there was often an uplift and the Service Director Finance stated that he would investigate and let Members know details thereon

·         A Member enquired whether services could consider in house provision before procuring services and it was stated that whilst this is not always possible, managers would always review the best way of delivering a service before they considered a procurement process

·         In response to a question as to how many of the contractors were local it was stated that this was difficult to ascertain as companies may not have head offices based in Islington but be nationwide or vice versa, or a contractor may use sub-contractors, who were/were not local

·         In response to a question it was stated that there is now an overall picture of which voluntary sector organisations are funded across the Council

·         A Member enquired as to how many organisations had attended the workshops referred to in paragraph 3.9 of the report, and how many had successfully bid for Islington contracts and it was stated that this information could be supplied to Members

RESOLVED:

(a)  That information be provided to Members of the Committee –

Instances of where the Procurement Board has challenged procurement exercises on the basis of social value

How many local suppliers are based in the borough

The data on the use of LBI consultants in the past few years be provided, together with the strategy to reduce this to 2020

Examples of RIA’s that have been carried out in relation to recent procurement exercises

Information on possible uplifts in schedule of rates in housing contracts following a procurement exercise and any reasons therefore

Information as to how many organisations had attended the workshops referred to in paragraph 3.9 of the report and how many had successfully bid for Islington contracts

(b)  That the report be noted

The Chair thanked Councillor Hull and Steve Key for attending