Issue - meetings

To consider proposed amendments to the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules.

The Committee considered a report on proposed amendments to the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules.

The Contract Procedure Rules (the Rules) formed part of the Council’s Finance and Contract Procedure Rules within the Constitution.  The amendments were proposed to reflect best practice developed by the Procurement Unit, including clarification on the use of Delegated Decisions by Chief Officers.  Amendments were also proposed to take into account new legislation and the Council’s ability to receive electronic tenders, as well as clarify and remove parts of the Rules which were no longer applicable.  There was also a proposal to increase the financial threshold at which the Rules require a formal tendering procedure from £50,000 to £75,000 which it was anticipated would make it easier for SMEs to engage in business with the Council.

The Committee had a number of queries and concerns about the proposed amendments and proposed that a decision be deferred and further work be carried out on the amendments to the Rules.

RESOLVED:  That

1          Council note that the Constitution Committee has deferred consideration of the report to a future meeting to enable further work to be carried out.

2          a report be brought to a future meeting reviewing and amending the Finance element of the Finance and Contract Procedure Rules.