Commission blasts council purchasing_2
17 August 2012
Nearly three-quarters of local authorities are failing to carry out effective procurement two years after a major review programme was launched, the local government spending watchdog has warned.
In a hard-hitting report, Competitive Procurement, the Audit Commission attacks the “defensive” purchasing culture at many authorities.
It says nearly two-fifths of councils have a purchasing strategy, but that 80 per cent of these are “incomplete, untested or deficient in one or more key areas”.
But councils hit back, saying it takes time to overhaul...