West London Procurement Board and Hub

Participating councils: Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow with participation on the Board by Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea.

During 2011/12 a business proposition was developed by the WLA councils which identified the potential opportunity to deliver annualised savings of £15.7m by 2012/2015 through collaboration on commissioning and procurement activities. The main areas that will benefit from the programme are environmental and property services. The business proposition was approved in November 2011. During the remainder of 2011/2012 work has been undertaken to implement the recommendations and a start made on the delivery of the projects identified in the business proposition.

The aim of the programme is to promote and deliver collaborative procurement and supplier management with the aim of achieving financial savings whilst having proper regard to quality. The principal objectives are:

• Achieve a clear understanding of the forward commissioning and procurement strategies of the West London councils to enable planning and assessment of the opportunities for collaboration between  councils;
• Establish a collaborative commissioning and tendering programme;
• Lead on cost negotiations with selected common suppliers to achieve cost reductions for councils;
• Support the effective and efficient management of significant common suppliers of services to the West London councils to ensure continuous performance improvement; 
• Promote good practice and facilitate shared learning, training and staff development for staff involved in procurement and contract management;
• Work with the West London councils to promote procurement initiatives to support their local economies including opportunities for employment, SMEs and social enterprises.

Due to its recent establishment, the programme is not due to deliver its first savings until 2012/2013.