POOR SERVICE FROM SCC SAYS AUDIT COMMISSION (21/03/02)

The Audit Commission has just published its findings on Somerset County Council’s methods of procuring (purchasing) goods and services. The Commission, an independent body responsible for ensuring that public money is used economically, efficiently and effectively, says that :

‘We have assessed the Council as providing a poor service that has uncertain prospects for improvement…there are no arrangements in place to share good procurement practice across the Council.’ ‘Corporate procurement is not optimising value for money’ and ‘The amount of money that the Council spends on procurement has proved difficult to measure.’

This view mirrors that of Conservative County Councillors, who have already called for a fundamental review to target the mismanagement and money-wasting that occurs at County Hall. The Conservative Group highlighted the shortcomings of the Council’s Procurement methods in October 2001 and was instrumental in establishing a Member’s Commission on Procurement. The Commission’s aim is to improve procurement methods and make savings.

The Audit Commission comments that :

‘It is encouraging to see that (Conservative) councillors recognised the limitations of the review and took decisive action to remedy this.’

‘We are positive that councillors are now more aware of the significant procurement issues facing the Council and are proposing to drive improvements through the Member Commission.’

The Chairman of the Procurement Commission, Conservative County Councillor for Castle Cary, Robert Little, said, ‘Council Tax payers throughout Somerset will be disappointed by the findings of the Audit Commission. They have a right to expect sound financial management but will feel that the Report indicates otherwise. Improvements in Procurement methods by the Council are essential and I hope that the Commission will be able put them in place, so that the Audit Commission’s doubts about the prospects for improvement will prove to be unfounded.’

John Smeaton, Conservative Group Leader said; "This is another recognition by an independent audit, that the Liberal Democrats at County Hall are not up to the job of giving value for money for Council Taxpayers. We cannot afford these Liberal-Democrat spendthrifts any longer."