Tue, Apr 22 2008
An innovative purchasing plan aims to provide a better deal for West Lothian taxpayers and local businesses.
West Lothian Council's Executive has approved a new procurement strategy, to make sure the best possible value is obtained from the £120 million spent each year by the council on supplies, services and works contracts. The forward-thinking three year plan will encourage local businesses to bid for council contracts and lead to closer working with other public bodies as part of five key objectives. It will also give greater consideration to the environmental and social aspects of any purchasing deal, ensure appropriate service contracts are place, and fully adopt modern electronic buying systems. Council Leader Peter Johnston said: "This new strategy is geared to getting the best value for West Lothian from the market place. "The balanced approach will see us try to increase trade with local businesses, and enter into large shared contracts with other public sector bodies to get the best possible deals for local taxpayers. "I hope it will encourage local firms to take the opportunity to work with us, which can only benefit West Lothian's economy as a whole. The strategy has been produced after genuine consultation with West Lothian Chamber of Commerce, to ensure smaller firms have a level playing field when bidding to work with the council. "The strategy will also promote a greater understanding of the environmental and social impact of our actions, to ensure we live up to our responsibilities in these areas." Local firms that want to do more business with West Lothian Council can benefit from West Lothian Chamber's networking meeting on 30 April. The meeting will be addressed by the council's procurement manager Neil Gubby, who will explain how more businesses can get involved in supplying the local authority. As a result of a series of discussions with the Chamber, the council has written a commitment to increase their dealings with West Lothian-based companies into their Procurement Strategy - and to further increase the number each year. West Lothian Council spends millions of pounds on goods and services each year, and Neil Gubby will explain how the Council is working to simplify the procurement process for suppliers. The Chamber's Chief Executive, Dave McDougall, appealed to local businesses to come along to the meeting on 30 April, saying: "We need to make as many businesses as possible aware of the opportunities this gives them - please help the process by coming along and encouraging as many others as possible to come too." The meeting will be held at Livingston FC's Almondvale Stadium in Livingston. Neil Gubby?s presentation will be followed by a light buffet and the opportunity to network and make useful contacts. To book your place on this event, call 01506 777 937 or email mailto:brenda.cumming@wlchamber.com
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