| Each
year Councils spend almost £40 billion of public
money externally. It is, of course, vital that this
money is spent wisely and that best value is obtained
The
importance of procurement within Local Authorities is
growing and Councils are striving to ensure that their
procurement performance provides a positive contribution
to the delivery of strategic objectives and improving
the quality of services delivered to the public.
Several
reports in recent years have identified the role of
procurement in the context of wider Local Authority
responsibilities culminating recently in a ‘National
Procurement Strategy for Local Government’.
The
Better RegulationTask Force and Small Business Council
have identified the role which small businesses, often
described as ‘the engine of the economy’,
have to play and have provided recommendations detailing
the steps which Local Authorities might take in recognising
their role.
A
lot of Councils’ websites provide guidance and
advice to prospective contractors, suppliers and service
providers on how to do business with the Council together
with links to other relevant organisations. It also
provides opportunities for small, medium and large companies/enterprises
to be more aware of procurement activities and tendering
opportunities that are available through Councils and
other public sector organisations.
Locally,
St Helens Council is keen to embrace the development
of e-commerce for all it's business transactions - the
vast majority of official purchase orders are sent to
suppliers electronically and increasingly you will find
tenders being conducted in the same manner - to that
end it has initiated the development of an E-Tendering
System. Further information click here.
Other
Councils in Merseyside also provide a lot of information
about how to supply to them and this information can
be found via the following links:
Knowsley
Council
Liverpool
Council
Sefton
Council
Wirral
Council
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