Government calls for more efficient council procurement

People in London procurement jobs in the local government sector have been told to spend taxpayers' money more efficiently.

According to communities secretary John Denham, new and innovative ways of using money to improve public services need to be developed.

"Every taxpayer pound must be made to work as hard as the person who earned it did," he insisted.

"Councils need to recognise that creative purchasing is not simply buying for less."

Indeed, he stated that being innovative and shaping markets must become the new principles of public procurement.

Mr Denham added that by thinking creatively, local authorities would be able to deliver social, environmental and economic benefits.

This, he said, could in turn create more permanent jobs, boost skills and help small businesses.

The advice comes after Mayor of London Boris Johnson launched a new website containing best practice guidelines and information for the procurement sector to help it become more environmentally friendly.

Updated: 25 September 2009.
Categories: market-and-industry-news, procurement.