As discussed below, public procurement has finally become a key government priority.
For those who are interested in reading up on this, then this blog has a number of entries on this subject over the last couple of years:
It would be easy to to say "I told you so" but clearly government in Wales moves at its own pace and listens to those closest to it.
The important thing is that the First Minister has finally recognised the problem, although despite the warm words towards finally doing something positive on this issue, it would seem that public sector bodies continue to ignore local suppliers.
As an article in the Daily Post points out today, pupils on Anglesey are being served up foreign meat by private contractors brought in to provide the school dinner service. If this is going on in one local authority, what about the other 21 councils, the NHS, universities, local colleges and the Welsh Assembly Government itself.
Over the last week, we have heard yet more political rhetoric over public procurement in Wales but now is the time for action not words.
The first thing the Assembly should do is to ask every local body to give a list of all the contracts they manage so they can get a handle on the situation. After that, they should find imaginative ways of ensuring that local firms are given priority for the supply of goods and services. Utilising a 'food miles'or local sustainability clause in the marking criteria for contracts would be one way to do this.
Finally, they should call a meeting of all the procurement managers within the public sector and get them on board as there is a suspicion amongst local firms that the people who actually make the decision on awarding contracts simply don't understand the scale of the problem and the need for flexibility in supporting local businesses.
For those who are interested in reading up on this, then this blog has a number of entries on this subject over the last couple of years:
- Buy local (2007)
- Buy Welsh (2007)
- Too dependent on the public sector
- Buy Welsh (2008)
- Buy Welsh II (2008)
It would be easy to to say "I told you so" but clearly government in Wales moves at its own pace and listens to those closest to it.
The important thing is that the First Minister has finally recognised the problem, although despite the warm words towards finally doing something positive on this issue, it would seem that public sector bodies continue to ignore local suppliers.
As an article in the Daily Post points out today, pupils on Anglesey are being served up foreign meat by private contractors brought in to provide the school dinner service. If this is going on in one local authority, what about the other 21 councils, the NHS, universities, local colleges and the Welsh Assembly Government itself.
Over the last week, we have heard yet more political rhetoric over public procurement in Wales but now is the time for action not words.
The first thing the Assembly should do is to ask every local body to give a list of all the contracts they manage so they can get a handle on the situation. After that, they should find imaginative ways of ensuring that local firms are given priority for the supply of goods and services. Utilising a 'food miles'or local sustainability clause in the marking criteria for contracts would be one way to do this.
Finally, they should call a meeting of all the procurement managers within the public sector and get them on board as there is a suspicion amongst local firms that the people who actually make the decision on awarding contracts simply don't understand the scale of the problem and the need for flexibility in supporting local businesses.
Comments
"After that, they should find imaginative ways of ensuring that local firms are given priority for the supply of goods and services."
Mr. Bone the Butcher says....
As a Meat Purveyor of many years standing, I would simply state that the most 'imaginitive' way of ensuring priority for the use of local firms is a lower cost price.
As a businessman I have found that locally supplied meat is frequently over-priced with an over-emphasis on its 'local' origins. As a matter of interest, what exactly is local?
I have frequently purchased large quantities of meat from Southern Ireland which, in terms of mileage, is produced closer to my premises than so-called 'local' produce.
The final arbiter of this debate is the customer and consumer. The vast majority of my customers are more concerned with the product's price and quality rather than it's 'local' origin.
Of course, there are some customers who insist on 'locally' produced meat but they are in a vast minority and are prepared to pay a premium for this service. Most of my customers are not.
No shit sherlock!
What about some one independant handling the procurement
This may be a small job but it just typifies the entrenched attitudes and incompetence within most local authorities. This has to change.