Purpose

The
report seeks approval for the expansion of the Procurement
Partnership to include Tonbridge and Malling.  Approval would ensure that all three Councils have
access to professional procurement resources, improve resilience
and be able to prepare for the upcoming changes to procurement
legislation.

Decision

RESOLVED –
 
1.    
That the expansion of the Procurement Partnership be
approved.
 
2.    
That the Portfolio Holder for Finance and
Performance delegates authority to enter into the legal agreement
to the Director of Finance, Performance and Development (Section
151 Officer) be approved.

Reasons for the decision

To
approve the proposed partnership with the budgets, operating model
and terms indicated in Appendix A would ensure that all three
Councils have access to professional procurement resource, improve
their resilience, and can prepare for the upcoming changes to
procurement legislation.

Alternative options considered

Do
Nothing -  The partnership needs to
continue to improve its resilience and professional development
opportunities.  Doing nothing would not
support this.
 
Pay as
you Go – TMBC would pay TWBC a fee for any procurement advice
or services required.  This would
potentially generate a short term revenue stream for the current
partnership, but TMBC would eventually look to recruit their own
procurement resources or join with another authority.  This option would not afford TWBC the resilience
preferred and does not offer the professional development needed
for the current partnership team.