The updated strategy was approved by councillors at a meeting of the Full Council this week and sets out the vision, objectives, and actions that will direct and govern procurement activities for the council until 2025.

At the very heart of the strategy is an aim to develop resilient local supply chains and encourage more innovative use of the Community Benefits Scheme – a scheme established in 2020 that enables contractors and suppliers appointed by the council to choose from a list of proposed community benefits, that community groups have identified, as part of the tender.

The updated document sets out a framework that will enable the council to continue on its journey of change and innovation through various actions, including:

• Ensuring that it continues to adopt a partnership approach between internal and external partners;
• Setting out clear and achievable strategic objectives that support the delivery of the council’s wider goals and objectives;
• Working co-operatively to support small and medium-sized enterprises and third-sector organisations and delivering simplified and more consistent procurement processes for businesses tendering for contracts across Argyll and Bute;
• Enhancing contract management throughout the council to increase efficiency and deliver better value for money;
• Raising awareness among suppliers of forthcoming opportunities to bid for contracts;
• And, ensuring it continues to investigate and develop purchase-to-pay systems to improve procurement methods.

The council’s Policy Lead for Procurement, Councillor Alastair Redman, said: “We recognise the importance of supporting local businesses, and we want to make it easy as possible for them to work with our procurement team and bid for contracts that will help our communities and support council operations.

“Our updated strategy focuses on this, and puts local businesses first whilst ensuring we continue to get best value.”