Purpose

Approval to re-tender the CBC contract. RBWM has been part of CBC, which is made up of 55 Library Authorities, since August 2010 for the supply of library stock. Cabinet will be asked to note the tender process and delegate authority to the Assistant Director to award the contract to the successful supplier. The contract represents very good value for money as it secures high discounts for books and delivery of shelf-ready processed books directly to individual libraries within a few days of publication.

Decision

That Cabinet noted the report and:

i)               Noted the retender for the supply of library stock by the Central Buying Consortium under the compliant procurement process.

ii)              Approved the Council continuing to remain an Associate Member of the Central Buying Consortium for the supply of library stock until 31 March 2028.

iii)             Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities and Leisure, to award the tender and exercise the optional extension until 31 March 2028 if CBC pursued the extension.

iv)             Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities and Leisure, to consider increasing the proposed £100k minimum spend, should the budgetary opportunity arise during the period of the contract.