Last year Dumfries and Galloway Council injected more than £56 million into the local economy through supply chain spending.
Overall, more than 30% of all Council suppliers were locally based and more than 50% based within Scotland.
The figures will be unveiled to the Council’s Finance, Procurement and Transformation Committee when they are presented with the local authority’s Procurement Annual Report at a meeting on Tuesday, August 29.
Total procurement spend amounted to £199 million on goods, services and works across the financial year 2022/23. In total the Council used 666 suppliers with 209 of them at a registered address within Dumfries and Galloway, at least 156 of which were small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The largest sector of spend was construction at more than £40 million.
Committee chair, Councillor Ivor Hyslop said: “Procurement is recognised as key in contributing towards the successful delivery of the Council’s priorities, particularly economic development. Our procurement activity can have a positive impact on our communities, and we are pleased that we are succeeding in diverting so much spending locally.”
New for the reporting year was the establishment of a Community Benefits programme that has been built into all relevant contracts by the Council.
This includes a Community Benefit Wishlist element where local community groups can apply for support from contractors.
Community Benefits are a range of activities aimed at improving the economic, social, or environmental wellbeing of the Dumfries and Galloway region and are delivered by contractors in addition to their main area of work.
Some examples of community benefits throughout the year include, Connected Kerb Ltd, which was contracted for electric vehicle charge point development. The company supported the funding and installation of a defibrillator at North West Community Campus.
Health and safety consultancy Genesis OHS Ltd, provided work experience for a S6 student helping them secure a place at university, and as a condition of the contract to refurbish a primary school, William Waugh (builders) agreed to employ two local apprentice joiners.
“Community Benefits are designed to bring added value to area when we tender for a contract by ensuring that the winning supplier gives something back to the community to improve the environment, create training openings or by increasing social opportunities,’ added Committee Vice-Chair, Councillor Richard Marsh.
One of the organisations to benefit was Langlands School, a secondary for young people with complex needs. Clark Contracts donated £1,000 to help Friends of Langlands maintain its school minibuses.
Kemal Altug, the Co-Chair of Friends of Langlands said: “Clark Contracts provided a generous donation to help keep our minibuses on the road. It is great to see the impact of Council spend in our community. Dumfries and Galloway Council created this Community Benefits Wishlist and it has definitely worked for Langlands School, so thank you.”
Communities can apply online to the Community Benefits Wishlist.
To read the full report go to: Agenda for Finance, Procurement and Transformation Committee on Tuesday, 29th August, 2023, 10.30 am – Dumfries and Galloway Council (moderngov.co.uk)
