Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval for LB Brent to join a Procurement Shared Service (PSS) that will be led by LB Harrow as set out in the Business Case at Appendix A.   The principal aim of joining the PSS will be to ensure that the Council continues to receive Procurement services whilst being in a strong position to deliver the required savings of £272k from procurement in 2016/17. 

(i)         that the provision of its procurement service be delegated to the London Borough of Harrow with effect from 1st April 2016 or such other date as may reasonably be agreed with the London Borough of Harrow;

(ii)        that approval be given to enter into an Inter Authority Agreement confirming the terms of the delegation of the provision of its procurement service to the London Borough of Harrow;

(iii)       that authority be delegated to the Director Performance, Policy and Partnerships in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and Chief Legal Officer to negotiate the precise terms of the Inter Authority Agreement for a Procurement Shared Service between the London Borough of Brent, the London Borough of Harrow and Buckinghamshire County Council as set out in the Business Case at Appendix A.

(iv)       that the proposed staffing arrangements including the transfer of procurement staff currently employed by the London Borough of Brent to the London Borough of Harrow as set out at paragraphs 3.6 and 3.7 be noted.

The report from the Director of Performance, Policy and Partnership sought approval for LB Brent to join a Procurement Shared Service (PSS) that would be led by LB Harrow as set out in the Business Case at Appendix A of the Director’s report.   The principal aim of joining the PSS was be to ensure that the Council continued to receive Procurement services whilst being in a strong position to deliver the required savings of £272k from procurement in 2016/17.  Councillor Pavey (Deputy Leader of the Council) in introducing the report, stated that the proposals would allow the council to share expertise and achieve economies of scale. A joint member level procurement committee would meet annually and Brent would still have its own procurement policy.

Councillor Butt (Leader of the Council) referred to the major benefit in joining the PSS arrangement namely that the borough would be in a strong position to obtain far greater benefit from Social Value in its contracts to benefit the community.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that the provision of its procurement service be delegated to the London Borough of Harrow with effect from 1st April 2016 or such other date as may reasonably be agreed with the London Borough of Harrow;

(ii)        that approval be given to enter into an Inter Authority Agreement confirming the terms of the delegation of the provision of its procurement service to the London Borough of Harrow;

(iii)       that authority be delegated to the Director of Performance, Policy and Partnerships in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and Chief Legal Officer to negotiate the precise terms of the Inter Authority Agreement for a Procurement Shared Service between the London Borough of Brent, the London Borough of Harrow and Buckinghamshire County Council as set out in the Business Case at Appendix A;

(iv)       that the proposed staffing arrangements including the transfer of procurement staff currently employed by the London Borough of Brent to the London Borough of Harrow as set out at paragraphs 3.6 and 3.7 of the Director’s report be noted.