Vision

The Council’s vision is to deliver cost effective services to our residents utilising procurement best practice across the whole of the Council.

Strategy

The Council’s procurement strategy has the following themes:-

1 Cultural shift

1.1 The Council will function as a single organisation with the Corporate Procurement Team at the heart of all Council procurement decisions.

1.2 The Council recognises that good contract management is essential and a named officer will have responsibility for managing each significant contract.  

2 Providing leadership and building capacity

2.1 The Council has implemented a new officer structure whereby all Purchasing Groups report to the Corporate Procurement Manager, enabling best value decisions for the Council utilising best practice procurement and contract management.

2.2 The Council will ensure that the risks associated with procurement and individual contracts are pro-actively managed.

3 Partnering and collaboration

3.1 The Council undertakes to work with other public and private sector organisations to improve Council services, through better shared procurement.

4 Doing business electronically

4.1 The Council is committed to continually improve its integrated electronic systems  to support its procurement activities.

5 Stimulating markets and achieving community benefits

5.1 The Council will use its buying power to positively influence the local economy, taking account of environmental and fair trade issues.

5.2 The Council will be proactive in supporting equal opportunities for all through any procurement processes it undertakes.

Action plan to deliver the Procurement Strategy

A detailed action plan is attached showing areas for action and progress to date against these areas.  The key areas of action are:

  • Review current procurement practice
  • Implement structured project planning
  • Restructure payment terms
  • Introduce contract register and procurement programme
  • Implement contract management
  • Assess competency / training needs of all purchasing staff
  • Implement a graduate trainee programme
  • Introduce standard forms
  • Implement structured knowledge sharing
  • Review consortia procurement
  • Further progress e-procurement initiatives and systems to support such activity
  • Progress local procurement
  • Progress “Green” procurement / Fair Trade
  • Carry out survey of large suppliers / contractors to the Council to identify their work force make up/diversity

For more information please email:
procurement@walthamforest.gov.uk