How and what we buy
Goods and services are paid for with public funds and so rules are in place to ensure a high level of transparency at all stages of the procurement process. Broadly speaking the rules fall into five groups:
- European procurement directives
- UK legislation
- Financial regulations of the council
- Contract and procurement rules of the council
- Policy decisions of the council
Purchasing decisions are complex and are not always not based solely on price, for example, we would consider if goods and services are:
- fit for purpose (quality, suitability for the task to be undertaken etc.)
- delivery and availability against price
- cost of ownership
- whole life cycle costs, including, spare parts, maintenance costs and projected down time
- on-costs (such as transport and storage)
- the cost of procurement itself
- sustainability, environmental and corporate social responsibility
We buy a wide variety of goods and services including:
- agency staff
- building consultancy and construction
- business travel
- civil engineers
- community services
- consultancy services
- credit reference services
- environmental health
- estate management
- food stuffs
- gas, electricity and oil
- housing services
- information technology
- janitorial products
- library materials
- office furniture
- office products
- quantity surveying
- residential and nursery accommodation
- residential child care
- school and children's services
- security services
- social care
- telecommunications
- vehicle fuels
- vehicle hire or leasing
- waste management