Council slammed in best value report
3 April 2012
Birmingham City Council’s procurement service is failing and unlikely to improve, according to a damning review by the Audit Commission.
Its Best Value Inspection Service claims that out-of-date, insufficiently detailed contractor practices are overburdening suppliers on the council’s 1,000-strong approved list. Only 140 of the suppliers have won contracts in the past year.
The review found late payments were common, with some companies waiting for 32 months to be paid. The council could not...