September 23, 2021

Our CEO, David Allen, recently delivered a presentation exploring the relationship between Cumbria CVS and local councils, at Transforming Local Government Procurement 2021.

The online event took place on the 28th September 2021, and brought together senior leaders from across Central and Local Government, academia and the wider public sector to hear the latest policy updates across the sector and address the challenges it faces in these unprecedented times.

David was joined on the day by speakers including John Penrose MP, Prime Minister’s Anti-Corruption Champion; Peter Schofield, Integrated Commissioning and Procurement at Manchester City Council; and Sue Arrowsmith, Professor Emerita, Public Procurement Law and Policy, University of Nottingham.

The event addressed the key issues that are currently facing local authorities in their procurement strategies, and gave the latest updates from the government on its Green Paper and its review into the risk of fraud and corruption in local government procurement, and recent developments such as the National Procurement Policy Statement will also be addressed and analysed.

Practical examples of council procurement initiatives were showcased covering key topics such as delivering social value, achieving net zero objectives and using a shared service model.

David said: “It was great to speak at the conference – what the green paper means to Cumbria’s VCFSE Sector. In my view, the framework and goals are solid – but it needs tailoring to develop a different relationship with the VCFSE sector than that with commercial organisations: one based on unrestricted grants, trust, shared objectives and mutual support.”