Purpose

To note the report and the issues raised on this.

Decision

The Cabinet:

1. 1. Reviewed the contents of this report and the progress against planned actions in the Action Plan for 2025/26, Key Performance Indicators for 2025/26, the updated self-assessment against the National Procurement Strategy and progress on Procurement projects for 2025/2026.
2. 2. Delegated authority to the relevant Cabinet Member and Director of Finance, Environment and Community (S151) to approve the Future Procurement Plan/Pipeline for 2026/27, as set out in APPENDIX E. This will enable procurement exercises to proceed, with contract awards being approved either through a Cabinet Member Decision or Cabinet Approval, as appropriate.
3. 3. Reviewed the update on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking for 2025/26.
4. 4. Approved the suggested amendments to KPI’s.

Reasons for the decision

The Procurement Team was established in Oct/Nov 2020 with the original Procurement Strategy being approved in December 2020.

In September 2025 the second Procurement and Commissioning Strategy was approved by Cabinet to cover 2025-2029 and builds on the solid foundations established through the previous strategy.

During 2025/2026 there was an increase in procurement projects of 15.34% with improvements to the National Procurement Strategy Maturity Assessment of 20%. The 30-day payment, savings and social value KPI’s have all been exceeded.

This is the seventh Procurement Matters report to Cabinet covering 2025/26 and provides:

• An update against the Procurement Action Plan in APPENDIX A

• APPENDIX B outlines the 2025/26 outcomes and establishes KPI baselines for 2026 onwards.

• The fifth self-assessment against the National Procurement Strategy Maturity Assessment in APPENDIX C

• An update on the progress made on Procurement projects for 2025/26 in APPENDIX D

• The Future Procurement Plan/Pipeline for 2026/27 at APPENDIX E for approval. Please note, all procurements listed in the pipeline will still require budgetary approval and relevant Directorate/Leadership approval based on the Contract Procedure Rules.

• An update on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking in 2025/26.

• An update of Social Value progress for 2025/26 at APPENDIX F.

• An update on the commencement and implementation of the Procurement Act 2023.

Alternative options considered

The Council could decide that a new Procurement and Commissioning Strategy is needed and develop one that is different in the outcomes it would like to  achieve.

The Council could decide that a new Social Value Policy is needed and develop one that is different in the outcomes it would like to achieve