Further to minute 74 (21/7/11) the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management sought Cabinet approval for the revision of the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules (“CPR”). The CPR formed part of the Council’s Constitution and therefore the proposed changes could only take effect once approved by Council. If Cabinet was agreeable to the revision made to the CPR, Council would be recommended to endorse the revision at its meeting on 17 October 2011.

The revision of the CPR had principally been undertaken so as to address issues raised by the Audit Commission following their review of the Council’s Highway and Engineering Services Procurement Exercise (‘HESPE’).

The Council had agreed, as part of the action plan endorsed by the Audit Commission, to revise the CPR to improve (amongst other things) clarity in relation to the governance arrangements, in-house bids, roles of officers and the tender process.

Resolved –

(1)  That Cabinet approves the revised Council’s Contract Procedure Rules as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

(2)  That Cabinet recommend the Council approve the revised Council’s Contract Procedure Rules as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

A report by the Director Law, HR and Asset Management related to the revision of the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules (CPR) which was undertaken in pursuance of the action plan agreed with the Audit Commission following the review of the HESPE procurement exercise.

The draft CPR had been sent to the Audit Commission for comment but unfortunately the Commission had been unable to provide its response until mid afternoon on the day of this meeting.

The Audit Commission had made some suggestions and comments on the draft CPR and it would seem sensible that officers be afforded sufficient time to first consider these suggestions and comments before the Cabinet approved any revision to CPR.

It was therefore proposed that the Cabinet defer this item of business to the next Cabinet meeting to be held on 1 September 2011.

The CPR formed part of the Constitution and therefore would require approval by the Council.  The proposed deferment would not affect the timetable for when the Council approval would be sought.

RESOLVED: 

That consideration of this report be deferred to the next meeting scheduled for 1 September 2011.