Decision details

To link the Procurement Strategy to the Climate Change Action Plan 2010-13 and incorporate Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults into the Procurement Strategy.

The Planning Portfolio Holder approved amendments to the Procurement Strategy to link to:

(a)          the Climate Change Action Plan 2010-13:

(i)            amend paragraph 4.8.6 of the Procurement Strategy (new wording shown in bold italics)

“As part of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan 2010-13 the Council is committed to reducing its own carbon footprint and procurement can play a part in achieving this aim.  The Council will therefore place significant weight upon seeking to ensure that the level of life-cycle carbon emissions associated with the materials, products, services and utilities that it procures are in line with its carbon reduction commitments.”

(ii)           amend paragraph 4.8.9 of the Procurement Strategy (new wording shown in bold italics)

 “The strategy is concerned with adopting a consistent approach for assessing the environmental impact of procurement activity within all the Council’s service areas. To this end technical guidance, support documents and training sessions will be made available to staff. This includes the use of life cycle assessments, eco-labels (e.g. energy star) and sustainability criteria in tender documentation.”

(b)          the Safeguarding Children Policy 2009 and Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy 2010:

(i)            insert a new section in the Procurement Strategy:

10 Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults

10.1 The Council needs to safeguard the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Therefore Contract Regulations will ensure that where procurement involves contractors coming into contact with children or vulnerable adults, the service will include criteria in the specification relating to the conduct of employees, health & safety, Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adult terms and put suitable reporting processes in place to mirror the Council’s internal procedures.