The Finance and Procurement Select Committee of Wiltshire Council is scheduled to meet on Thursday 7 May 2026. The meeting's agenda includes updates on Adult Social Care finances, a review of the council's procurement processes, and a discussion on the committee's future work programme.

Adult Transformation and Commissioning

A significant portion of the meeting is expected to focus on Adult Social Care (ASC). The committee will receive an update on actions taken in response to risks and challenges identified following the ASC budget outturn for the 2024/25 financial year. This includes information on additional risks and mitigations that have impacted the in-year financial position. Specifically, the report will cover ASC Commissioning activities, the Community Based Services Framework, and the transition of young people from children's care into adult care. The report details the extensive redesign of processes, improvements in data quality, and the introduction of governance controls implemented through the Payment to Providers (P2P) programme to address issues such as insufficient process capacity and ineffective communication. It also outlines the ongoing Adult Social Care Finance Stabilisation Programme, which aims to further refine forecasting and budget setting.

Procurement at Wiltshire Council

The committee is scheduled to receive an overview of local government procurement, including how Wiltshire Council conducts its procurement activities and the evaluation models it employs. This discussion will inform a decision on which procurements would benefit from review by the Finance and Procurement Select Committee. The report highlights the legal framework governing procurement, including the Procurement Act 2023 and the National Procurement Policy Statement, emphasizing objectives such as delivering value for money, driving economic growth, and building commercial capability. It details Wiltshire Council's centralised procurement function, financial thresholds, and various procurement routes, including open procedures, competitive flexible procedures, and frameworks. The report also outlines different evaluation models, such as price/quality splits and the consideration of social value, and provides examples of how these are applied. A recommendation is made for the committee to review the procurement pipeline regularly and to scrutinise procurements that present a higher risk or involve alternative approaches, such as Local Authority Trading Companies (LATCOs).

Forward Work Programme

The committee will review and approve its forward work programme. This includes noting planned agenda items for future meetings, such as the Q4 Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring reports for the 2025/26 financial year, the Treasury Management Outturn Report for 2025/26, and the Q1 Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring reports for the 2026/27 financial year. The programme also indicates that items on Housing Revenue Account (HRA) finances and Local Authority Trading Companies (LATCOs) will be added to the forward work plan.

Cabinet Member Update

A brief verbal update is expected from attending Cabinet Members or their Portfolio Holders. This update will highlight any recent news, successes, or milestones in their respective areas that are not covered elsewhere on the agenda.

Sample Scrutiny Questions

The report pack includes sample scrutiny questions designed to assist committee members in their oversight role. These questions cover areas such as customer impact, the purpose and evidence base for proposals, links to wider council objectives, resource allocation, workforce considerations, performance monitoring, risk management, efficiency, compliance, public awareness, and benchmarking against other authorities.