The Chief Officer – Legal, HR & Regulatory Services sought approval for the adoption of the Socially Responsible Procurement Strategy and Modern Slavery Statement to take effect from 1 October 2021 and update Members on the response to the recommendations of the Procuring Well-being in Wales – Future Generations Commissioners for Wales’ Section 20 Procurement Review Report.

The Chief Officer – Legal, HR & Regulatory Services informed Cabinet that the Council delivers its services directly through its own workforce, private and third sector organisations, spending over £186 million a year and has a responsibility to manage public money with probity, to ensure that value for money is achieved and to manage it in such a way that it can support wider Council objectives.  In order for the Council to fulfil its responsibility and deliver the Council’s objectives, a Procurement Strategy and Delivery Plan is required.

The Chief Officer – Legal, HR & Regulatory Services reported that the Socially Responsible Procurement Strategy builds on the previous procurement strategy that established the adoption of category management to improve procurement performance across the Council.  It set out the Council’s key procurement priorities through to 2024 and the key changes that it will make to improve the management of its external spend on goods, services and works.  The Strategy was focused on the delivery of seven broad over-arching Organisational Procurement Objectives and had been informed by the Corporate Plan, Welsh Government and UK legislation and policy including the Wales Procurement Policy Statement, Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the draft Social Partnership and Public Procurement Bill (2021).  She stated that the Strategy placed an increased emphasis on the delivery of economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being objectives relating to progressive procurement, such as the Foundational and Circular Economy, and preventing climate change by prioritising carbon reduction and zero emissions through more responsible and sustainable procurement. 

The Chief Officer – Legal, HR & Regulatory Services also reported that the  Council will publish an annual Modern Slavery Statement setting out its commitments to ensuring modern slavery and human trafficking have no place in the business and supply chains.  She stated that the Statement sets out the commitments the Council is making to manage and minimise the risk of slavery or trafficking occurring within day to day operations.

The Chief Officer – Legal, HR & Regulatory Services informed Cabinet that in March 2020 the Council was one of nine public sector bodies that participated in the Procuring Well-Being in Wales - Future Generations Commissioner for Wales’ Section 20 Procurement Review.  The Commissioner had highlighted some areas of strength, as well as further opportunities for development, when considering the Council’s contribution to the seven well-being goals and organisational well-being objectives and using the five ways of working to think differently about the approach to procurement.  The Commissioner had identified a key strength for the Council being the long-term approach to working collaboratively with the commissioning teams, considering the outcomes procurement can deliver.  The Chief Officer – Legal, HR & Regulatory Services informed Cabinet that an action plan had been developed to implement the main recommendations of the report. 

The Deputy Leader in commending the report welcomed the new contractual commitments and that it would be part of the contract monitoring process and to ensure the Council is compliant with its responsibilities.  He looked forward to seeing the implementation of the action plan.  The Cabinet Member Social Services and Early Help was delighted to see that the Council is setting the pace in procurement as the Council has a responsibility to help with community wellbeing and it reinforces the foundation economy, giving businesses the ability to compete. 

RESOLVED:           That Cabinet:

(i) approved and adopted the revised Socially Responsible Procurement Strategy attached at Appendix 1 to the report to take effect from 1st October 2021;

(ii) approved and adopted the Modern Slavery Statement attached at Appendix 2 to the report to take effect from 1st October 2021;

(iii) delegated authority to the Chief Officer – Legal, HR & Regulatory Services to conduct an annual review of the Modern Slavery Statement, make amendments to that statement as appropriate and publish the Modern Slavery Statement every financial year as required;

(iv) noted the responses to the recommendations of the Procuring well-being in Wales Report as outlined in Section 4.10 of the report.