Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Corporate Resources.

The Procurement Manager presented the Quarterly Waivers Report, making the following points:  

• this had been a recommendation from both the external and internal audit;  

• it was typical for this to be reported quarterly or every six months within Local Authority;  

• since staff training had begun there had been a reduction in the number of waivers; 

• a number of breaches were due to grants from central government;  

• there had been no deliberate breaches; and 

• it was normal for there to be a lot of breaches.  

The Strategic Director for Corporate Resources provided context for a breach regarding CCTV and advised that it had been necessary for the function of CCTV in the City Centre to use the same supplier.  

The Procurement Manager, and the Strategic Director for Corporate Resources answered Members’ questions in the following terms:  

• tenders in excess of £100,000 had to be signed off by the Procurement Team, which involved a rigorous process;  

• some direct awards were through framework with another organisation, such as a contract for Trews Weir with the Environment Agency;  

• a grant had been given by MCHLG, which required a short-term waiver;  

• Portfolio Holders were involved in approving and signing off waivers over £215,000.  

The Audit and Governance Committee noted the Quarterly Waivers Report.