Agenda item

The Board received a report of the Strategic Director – Corporate and Policy which outlined the Government’s plans for introducing “Flexible Framework on Sustainable Procurement”, and to identify the actions that should be taken to ensure Halton was able to meet their expectations of the role expected of local authorities.

It was noted that the aim of the Framework was to ensure goods, services, works and utilities procured by the Council were designed, procured, used, managed and disposed of in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Action would be needed to further embed sustainability into the Council’s procurement processes.

It was further noted that Sustainable Procurement took into account the social, economic and environmental impact that such purchasing had on people and communities whilst still achieving value for money. It meant improving the efficiency of public procurement whilst at the same time using public market power to bring about major environmental and social benefits locally and globally.

Members were advised of the background to introducing the Flexible Framework on Sustainable Procurement, particularly the Governments’ approach and relevant publications from the Local Government Association that set out the new Local Government Performance Framework which included National indicators 185, 186 and 188, which recognised local authorities’ role to lead on efforts to both reduce carbon dioxide emissions and consider climate change adaptation.

In addition it was noted that the Sustainable Procurement Task Force was established in May 2005, and developed an action plan to bring about a step-change in sustainable procurement with the aim of being a leading EU nation on sustainable procurement by 2009. Whilst the strategy was aimed at the Government estate, it set out a benchmark for all public authorities.

In 2007 the Task Force agreed a National Sustainable Procurement Action Plan. This introduced The Flexible Framework on Sustainable Procurement, which set out targets across five topic areas and to five levels. The Framework and levels were outlined in detail in the report.

The Board was advised that by April 2009 all public sector organisations were expected to reach level 3 (or above) of the flexible framework with leadership (level 5) in at least one area by December 2009. To date, some of the requirements had partially been achieved.

Members were further advised that in order to achieve the foundation level Halton must identify sustainable procurement champions at Member and Executive level and, to identify the key officers with a role to play in sustainable procurement to focus attention on the Council’s commitment to sustainability. A simple sustainable procurement policy had been prepared and was attached to the report.

Members were advised that it would be necessary to address initial training issues on sustainability with targeted refresher courses at appropriate intervals. The cost to commissioning external training would need to be met but it was not envisaged that this would be a significant sum.

The report further outlined the flexible framework, where Halton was now and the next steps.

Arising from Members’ comments it was noted that the Employment, Learning and Skills Policy and Performance Board had recently completed a scrutiny topic on using procurement to enhance employment and jobs and that some of the principles of the report could be utilised.

RESOLVED: That

the Board recommends that the Council endorses the Sustainable Procurement Policy and approves the actions necessary to enable Halton to meet the challenge of the Flexible Framework in that,

• Sustainable Procurement Champions were identified at both member and executive level;
• Key Procurement Officers were identified and trained at senior level to act as mentors to other procurement staff in their directorates; and
• Progress on the Flexible Framework be monitored by the Procurement and Commissioning Group and regular reports on progress be made to the Business Efficiency Board.