Selling to the Council: Procurement rules

Contents

  1. Overview
  2. National rules
  3. Local rules (Council Constitution)

Overview

There are rules the Council has to follow when procuring goods and services, including:

National rules

The Government requires Councils to use their resources in the best possible way to deliver value for money and modern public services in the most cost effective way.

As a 'public body', the Council must carry out its procurement activity in line with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 at a national level, and also its own Constitution at a local level.

Although the UK has now exited the European Union (EU), there are some basic EU rules the Council must follow.

These include:

  • the general Treaty of Rome principles of equal treatment, non-discrimination and transparency.

Local rules

The Council is committed to a value for money approach which improves economy, efficiency and effectiveness.

Procurement activities must also comply with the Council's own procurement procedure rules in the Council Constitution.

These rules detail the various methods to be adopted when procuring goods, works and services of varying values.

They also reflect the principles of reasonableness, fairness and transparency with clearly stated levels of authorisation, to award contracts and represent a fully auditable process.