The Group Finance Director submitted a report to request that Cabinet recommend to Council approval to a three-year Procurement Strategy.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.    Consider the draft Procurement Strategy 2026-2029 (at appendix 1); and 

2.    Recommend to Council that the draft Procurement Strategy be adopted.

Cabinet resolved to:

1. Consider the draft Procurement Strategy 2026-2029 (at appendix 1); and 
2. Recommend to Council that the draft Procurement Strategy be adopted.

The Group Finance Director submitted a report to request that Cabinet recommend to Council approval to a three-year Procurement Strategy.

Councillor Turner presented the report. He noted the substantial value of the Council’s procurements. He said that the strategy would help them to continue complying with the law, procure things at good value, and help them to pursue ethical procurement practices. He commended officers on their work in bringing the strategy together.

Annette Osborne, Strategic Procurement Manager, outlined how they had sought to balance Council, local, and national priorities in the strategy. She said that they had tried to create an agile strategy, particularly in the face of Local Government Reorganisation. She noted the changes from central government that they expected, which would impact their ability to reserve the bidding of contracts to a specific geographic area.

Councillor Munkonge commended the team for their work and expressed his support for the strategy and its efforts to support small businesses and the living wage in Oxford. 

Cabinet resolved to:

1. Consider the draft Procurement Strategy 2026-2029 (at appendix 1); and 
2. Recommend to Council that the draft Procurement Strategy be adopted.