Agenda item

This report sets out proposals for the restructure of procurement functions and activities within the Resources Directorate.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)   That the proposals for restructuring procurement services within the Resources Directorate, as set out in paragraphs 8-14 of the report, be endorsed, prior to the Director of Resources making his final decision in accordance with the Council’s Constitution;

(ii)  That the need for the Assistant Director (Audit & Risk Management) to undertake a full review of how procurement functions and activities may be bets managed and delivered across the whole authority in the lead up to one-site operations at Hungate be endorsed, and this work be included in the medium term action plan now being prepared in support of the new Corporate Procurement Strategy for implementation from 1 April 2007.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:(i) a) To ensure the effective management and organisation of procurement services within the Directorate to better meet the current and future service needs of the organisation;

b)     To achieve recurring budget savings to the Council of £25k in 2007/08 and thereafter;

c)      To provide match funding of £10k to the CIPFA training scheme in order to support the planned development of the scheme in 2007/08;

                        (ii) To ensure the effective and efficient management of all procurement activities and functions across the Council, optimise scarce resources, support the delivery of the Corporate Procurement Strategy and secure full compliance with all regulatory requirements and Council policy.

Members received a report which set out proposals for the restructure of procurement functions and activities within the Resources Directorate.

The proposals for the restructure were set out in paragraphs 8-14 of the report.  The creation of the new structure would involve the following:

a)     The deletion of the current post of the Risk & Insurance Manager (PO9-12) within the Risk & Insurances Team;

b)     The deletion of the current post of Procurement Manager (PO21-24) within the Corporate Procurement Team (CPT);

c)      The deletion of the current post of Procurement Advisor (PO12-15) within the CPT;

d)     The deletion of the current post of Procurement Manager (PO6-9) within the Information Technology & Telecommunications (IT&T) procurement team;

e)     The deletion of the current post of Insurance Technician (Sc4-6) within the Risk & Insurances Team;

f)    The creation of a new post of the Risk Management, Insurances & Corporate Procurement Manager (PO17-20);

g)     The creation of a new post of Corporate Procurement Manager (PO14-17);

h)      The creation of a new post of Corporate Procurement Officer (PO6-9);

i)        The creation of a new post of Insurance Manager (PO1-4);

j)        The creation of two new posts of Procurement Assistant (Sc3/4)

k)      The part funded transfer of one of the existing Procurement Trainees to the corporate Chartered Institute for Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA) training scheme which would result in the team retaining a CIPFA placement in the corporate rotation scheme whilst extending professional development opportunities for all CIPFA trainees across the organisation.

The report set out three main options:

·        Option 1 – to do nothing;

·        Option 2 – to approve the proposals set out in paragraphs 8-14 of the report;

·        Option 3 – to reject the proposals set out at paragraphs 8-14 of the report.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)   That the proposals for restructuring procurement services within the Resources Directorate, as set out in paragraphs 8-14 of the report, be endorsed, prior to the Director of Resources making his final decision in accordance with the Council’s Constitution;

(ii)  That the need for the Assistant Director (Audit & Risk Management) to undertake a full review of how procurement functions and activities may be best managed and delivered across the whole authority in the lead up to one-site operations at Hungate be endorsed, and this work be included in the medium term action plan now being prepared in support of the new Corporate Procurement Strategy for implementation from 1 April 2007.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:(i) a) To ensure the effective management and organisation of procurement services within the Directorate to better meet the current and future service needs of the organisation;

b)     To achieve recurring budget savings to the Council of £25k in 2007/08 and thereafter;

c)      To provide match funding of £10k to the CIPFA training scheme in order to support the planned development of the scheme in 2007/08;

                        (ii) To ensure the effective and efficient management of all procurement activities and functions across the Council, optimise scarce resources, support the delivery of the Corporate Procurement Strategy and secure full compliance with all regulatory requirements and Council policy.