Watford Borough Council

Local government purchasing strategy

The National Strategy for Local Government Procurement encourages all councils to adopt world-class procurement practices, including contract management and supplier relationship management. The stated objectives are that all councils will be:

• Delivering better quality public services through sustainable partnerships with suppliers
• Utilising a diverse mix of suppliers including small firms, social enterprises, minority businesses and voluntary and community sector suppliers
• Obtaining greater value from all categories of procurement expenditure
• Achieving continuous improvement in value for money by collaborating with partners
• Realising economic, social and environmental benefits for their communities through procurement
• Stimulating new markets by using their buying power creatively.

In summary, all councils – including Watford – are now more than ever focused on delivering better services, for better value, via innovative supply relationships and or terms of supply, while balancing their requirements to enhance their local communities.