Purpose

The purpose of this report is to seek approval to create a Quality Contract Management Co-ordinator post to support and develop effective contract management practice within the Council as mandated by the Procurement Act 2023 and the National Procurement Policy Statement 2025. 

A significant proportion of the Council’s budget is spent on its contractual arrangements with external providers.  Each of these contractual arrangements should be subject to appropriate and proportionate contract management activity that aims to ensure that the Council is getting what it should from those contracts and that they are delivering for Knowsley people. 

However, it is acknowledged that contract management practice is not consistent across the organisation.  This is contrary to the expectations of the Procurement Act and the National Procurement Policy Statement. It is therefore proposed to create this post to support the development and application of quality contract management standards within the Council.  In doing so, it is intended that the application of these standards will make an important contribution to the Council’s wider transformation agenda.  This will include contract managers and commissioners being asked to review the nature of each requirement being procured or under contract and examine how the terms of current or future delivery of such contractual arrangements can contribute to the Council’s ability to manage its budget effectively within a difficult financial context for local authorities.

The proposal aligns with an external audit improvement recommendation issued in 2024 which highlighted the need for processes to be put in place to provide assurance that the Council’s contracts are being monitored and managed effectively.  It also aligns with an opportunity that has been identified by STAR Procurement for its partner authorities to tap into Cabinet Office’s contract Management Pioneer programme which is available to STAR Partners during the 2026/2027 financial year.

Resource to fund this post was agreed as part of the Council’s 2025/2026 budget process

Decision

That a full-time equivalent Quality Contract Management Co-ordinator post (Grade Q) be established within the Scrutiny, Procurement and Projects service to support the promotion and delivery of effective contract management activity within the organisation and in doing so contribute to the wider agenda to transform the organisation.

Alternative options considered

Do Nothing:  This option was considered and rejected as it is felt that the status quo in relation to the absence of a standardised approach to contract management is not sustainable in the current context.  This is particularly the case when taking into account the requirements of the national procurement regime in relation to contract management, its potential contribution to the delivery of an effective Council transformation programme, external audit’s improvement recommendation on such matters and the opportunities presented by the Cabinet Office-led Contract Management Pioneer Programme.