Decision details

Date of Decision:

9^th February 2024.

Title:

Ethical Procurement Policy

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Judith Badger; Strategic Director - Finance & Customer Services

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

The Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services has delegated functions, as set out within the Council’s Constitution, Responsibility for Functions (Appendix 9), section 4C5 – 3.

Decision:

To approve the updated and refreshed Ethical Procurement Policy

Reasons for the Decision:

The Ethical Procurement Policy was first approved in Cabinet in January 2020, and was due for a review inline with corporate procedures (3-yearly).

The policy has been brought up to date in terms of:

-       Removal of references to the EU Treaty following the UK’s exit from the European Union.

-       Updates to the Council’s actions regarding support to the Charter for Sustainable British Steel.

-       Removing reference to the previous Safeguarding Policy and acknowledging the new Safeguarding Protocol.

-       Removing reference to the previous Equality and Diversity Policy and acknowledging the new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

-       Reference to OSMB spotlight review on Modern Slavery

-       Documenting that the Council is now accredited with the Real Living Wage Foundation;

-       Including the new Council Motion to declare a Nature Crisis.

-       Including the new Council motion relating to Fair Tax.

-       Updates under the case study section.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

However, these are all currently captured in separate policy statements, Council motions, and Cabinet decisions. The aim of this Ethical Procurement Policy is to pull all the policy decisions agreed via Cabinet decisions or Council motions into one overarching document.  Therefore, there are no alternative options, as these will have been considered when the individual decisions had taken place.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

No conflicts of interest.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

Ethical Procurement Policy Refresh – to Strategic Director Finance and Customer Services.