Managing partnerships and contracts
Commitment 24
Put safety at heart of contract management
Lead
Procurement.
Our progress
We have introduced a new Safety Impact Assessment (SIA) tool for all key and executive decisions. New reports will help us understand how we can use good practice and our contract management can improve across the council.
Next steps
Six drop-in sessions to support officers to complete the SIAs took place in April/May 2025. We are also talking with individual council services to support them with the SIA assessments.
When this will happen
We will establish a library of completed SIAs by July 2025. The library will allow officers to access the SIAs, sharing good practice and practical benefits to help their future decisions.
A review of feedback from the first six months of SIAs, to help refine the template and guidance, was completed in July 2025.
Commitment 25
Be more rigorous in contractor performance monitoring
Lead
Procurement.
Our progress
The first review and contract management challenge sessions have been begun at the Commercial Assurance Panel. Dates are scheduled for the remainder of 2025 for challenge sessions. Contract managers of the council’s top 20 contracts have all been invited to sessions.
Next steps
We will report to the council’s Executive Management Team (EMT) and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC).
When this will happen
Six-monthly reports to EMT and annual report to OSC will begin in March 2026.
Commitment 26
Give residents genuine voice in contractor selection and management
Lead
Procurement.
Our progress
Strategic Procurement are exploring how to make this happen, including a residents' focus group and looking at local lessons from elsewhere (in Westminster).
Questions relating to resident involvement in procurement and contract management were included in consultation on Charter for Public Participation (April 2025).
When this will happen
The focus group took place on 17 July 2025.
We are gathering evidence from elsewhere and discussing how to engage with residents with the Communities Team.
Commitment 27
Strengthen oversight and scrutiny of contracts
Lead
Procurement.
Our progress
The first review and contract management challenge sessions have been begun for the Commercial Assurance Panel.
Next steps
Further challenge sessions are planned. We will report to the council’s Executive Management Team (EMT) and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC).
When this will happen
Six-monthly reports to EMT and annual report to OSC will begin in March 2026.