Decision details

(Report of the Management Team)

Careful consideration was given to a proposal to enter into an agreement with the Mid Kent Procurement Partnership to provide procurement support to the Borough Council.

Due regard was given to the options detailed in the report, which included the appointment of a dedicated officer and a partnership approach.  The advantages and disadvantages of each option were detailed in Annex 3 to the report.  It was felt that the in-house option did not provide adequate resource and represented less value for money than the partnership approach.  The Management Team proposed to allocate funding from the Transformation Reserve if Cabinet supported the option to progress the partnership approach on a 2-year trial.

On the grounds that there was a risk to the Borough Council if it did not address the need for additional support in regard to procurement, as previously identified by the External Auditor, Cllr Boughton proposed, seconded by Cllr Coffin that the partnership approach be adopted.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the Borough Council enter into a 2-year trial agreement with the Mid Kent Procurement Partnership; and

(2)            the 2-year trial agreement be funded from the Transformation Reserve.