Issue - meetings

The report provides an update on the council’s procurement policies in relation to small and medium-sized businesses in the local area, considering the challenges and what more can be done to enable these businesses to bid for council contracts.

Resolved:

                      i.         That the content of the report be noted;

                     ii.         Agreed in principle to a panel with the Federation of Small Businesses and the Chamber of Commerce to review the wording used in application forms in order to support small businesses complete applications.

Reason:     To update the Executive Member on procurement issues and activity in the support of the local economy and to support small businesses.

The Executive Member considered an update report on the council’s procurement policies in relation to small and medium-sized businesses. The Finance and Procurement Manager outlined the work undertaken to increase the support for local and small businesses to secure council contracts. She highlighted from the report, areas where the council continued to seek further improvement and how they communicated directly with local suppliers to facilitate this.

The Executive Member noted the positive reaction to supplier events that he attended. He identified one area the Federation of Small Business’ highlighted to him that could assist small and local business. This was that businesses needed further support to complete City of York Council forms and recommended a panel to consider these forms in their current format.

Resolved:

                      i.         That the content of the report be noted;

                     ii.         Agreed in principle to a panel with the Federation of Small Businesses and the Chamber of Commerce to review the wording used in procurement documentation in order to support small businesses to complete applications.

Reason:     To update the Executive Member on procurement issues and activity in the support of the local economy and to support small businesses.