How the Council buys

The Council's procurement arrangements are mainly organised on departmental lines, with co-ordination of common contracts and strategic oversight of procurement through the Council by the Strategic Procurement Team who are based in the Resources Directorate. The Council's Directorates are: -

•  Chief Executive's
•  Adult and Community Services
•  Children's Services
•  Environmental Services
•  Planning, Economy and Performance
•  Resources

All contracts must comply with UK law and the Council's Standing Orders, which govern its contracting activities and lay down procedures for obtaining quotations and tenders, awarding contracts etc.

Contracts for works, services or supplies must be let complying with EU Procurement Directives, which have been incorporated into UK law. The Directives apply to all contracts exceeding certain financial thresholds

(Approximately £156,442 in respect of contracts for goods and services; £3,927,260 for works contracts). For most contracts covered by the Directives, we are required to follow strict procedures, involving an initial tender notice in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).

OJEU is only available in electronic form, either on CD Rom or via Internet access. You can get further information from the following website Subscription enquiries should be addressed to the Stationery Office on 020 7873 9090.

The Council generally uses a restricted procedure for these tenders, involving a pre-qualification phase, with tenders being invited only from those applicants who meet certain predetermined criteria including financial stability, track record and equalities.

eCommerce

Find out more information on e-tendering and e-procurement.