Issue - meetings

To note the progress in relation to the Procurement Internal Audit Progress Review Update and the Implementation of the Procurement Act 2023.

The Committee considered a report from Terry Collier, Deputy Chief Executive on the Procurement Internal Audit Recommendations Progress Update. A point of clarification was initially provided in relation to section 2.2 of the report in that The new Procurement Act 2023, originally planned to commence on 28 October 2024 had been delayed to 24 February 2025. This was to allow time for the National Procurement Policy Statement to be adapted in line with the new Government’s priorities. As a result of this delay, the Council had additional time to prepare for changes including the facilitation of further training sessions for relevant staff and all Councillors. The permanent Procurement Manager was also joining on 1^st October 2024 who would support the consolidation of the new act within the Council. The report highlighted the most significant areas of change due to be imposed by the new act such as revised processes and new vocabulary. In the Internal Audit there were a number of recommendations that were partially implemented but will soon be subsumed into the requirements of the Procurement Act. There will also be new contract Standing Orders to be approved by full Council and disseminated to all staff.

The Independent Member noted that the outstanding Internal Audit procurement actions should be coordinated with SIAP to address as part of their internal audit plan. It was also considered beneficial to see a fuller and detailed internal audit report from SIAP on procurement as this was an important area. The Deputy Chief Executive confirmed that an audit of procurement will be undertaken by SIAP in Q3 of this year.

The Committee raised concerns regarding the progression of contract standing orders and that the Contract Register available on the public website was not being maintained. The Committee requested that the register be updated sufficiently in the interim period until the new Procurement Act was implemented in February 2025. The Deputy Chief Executive would ensure the register was updated and clarified that once the new act was in place, a central portal will replace the contracts register.

The Committee resolved to note the progress in relation to the Procurement Internal Audit Progress Review Update and the Implementation of the Procurement Act 2023.