| The consultation forms the response of the Society
of Purchasing Officers in Local Government to the above review
of Local Government Procurement in England. The Society's response
is in three parts:-
1. A comment on the recommendations 1-39.
2. A more detailed commentary on the section of the report on
Buying Consortia and the supporting paper (page 42 of the main
report paragraphs 4.15-4.24) and Recommendation 37, 23 and 24.
3. A detailed commentary on the proposals for a National Forum.
Since the report was published in June, the Society has been
very active in carrying out its own consultation.
Over 500 delegates attended the Society's Roadshow events during
June and July which were held throughout the country. These
were attended mainly by practitioners in procurement but also
by other local Government officers and delegates from the private
sector.
We called a meeting of those bodies interested in procurement
in England and these are listed in full later in our submission.
This meeting discussed all aspects of the Byatt report and our
submission includes proposals for a National Procurement Forum
to drive through the recommendations into actions through local
Government.
All Local Authority Consortia were invited to attend a meeting
to discuss the general content of the Byatt report, but specifically
that relating to buying consortia and the results of that meeting
are included as part of our submission to this consultation
process.
Finally, I should like to emphasise the Society's commitment
to supporting the recommendations of "Delivering Better
Services for Citizens" and our enthusiastic willingness
to provide practical, enabling help, support and direction should
the DTLR/LGA wish to endorse our proposals for a National Procurement
Forum. We would be pleased to discuss how such activity could
be provided and how any necessary/appropriate funding should
be allocated and managed to ensure the maximum value from every
pound invested.
One important message is that the Society believes that the
post-Byatt actions are best managed through a multi-faceted
approach to ensure ownership, not only by Local Authorities
but also by the practitioners who will be charged with the practical
implications of the review.
Regards.
Dave Wheller
Chairman
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