The Gershon review and the Delivering Efficiency agenda is encouraging all public sector authorities to consider their own procurement activities.
Finding the best solution is not proving to be an easy task, particularly in housing. This is because the ‘rules’ laid down originally by the DCLG’s predecessor contain two important guidelines:
1. Efficiencies must be made without compromising quality
'When claiming efficiencies of reduced inputs or lower prices for the same outputs, we recognise that a major challenge is to demonstrate that quality has been maintained'.
(i)Social Housing Efficiency: Efficiency Technical Note: Section 1.3 para 1 page 8 ODPM, February 2005.
2. Time and resources must not be wasted in re-inventing the wheel
'There should be no avoidable duplication with other consortia activity, whether already operational or in development'
(ii) Bidding guidance for support towards cost of housing procurement consortium. Section 34 (v), para 2, page 11. ODPM, March 2005.
The LHC Network offers framework arrangements, selected on the basis of quality outcomes for customers, which are already established and currently being used by over 260 members.
