What is the Council's Sustainable Procurement Policy?

Introduction

Hastings Borough Council recognises it has a vital role in furthering sustainable development, through its procurement of buildings, goods and services. Our procurement decisions have a major socio-economic (for example, creation of employment and training opportunities) and environmental implication, (for example, the need to reduce CO2 emissions and the amount of waste going to landfill), both locally and nationally. The Council is therefore committed to ensuring the goods and services it purchases:

• Are manufactured, delivered, used and disposed of in an environmentally and socially responsible manner and
• Deliver long term value for money for the Council and the public sector as a whole.

The policy was approved by Cabinet on 09 June 2008.

People, Education and Awareness

The Council will strive to:

• Communicate the sustainable procurement policy to all staff, Members, suppliers and stakeholders
• Educate, train and encourage internal purchasers to review their consumption of goods and services, reduce usage and adopt more environmentally friendly alternative products.

Policy, Strategy and Communications

The Council will strive to:

General

• Work in partnership with other local authorities and organisations, for example, Centres of Excellence, Local Strategic Partnerships to promote sustainable procurement and maximise sustainable procurement gains
• Promote and embed best practice for sustainable procurement.

Environmental Products

• Consider the costs and benefits of environmentally preferable goods, suppliers and services.
• Wherever possible and practicable, specify a requirement in line with nationally or regionally agreed minimum specifications.
• Where such exact specification is not possible, offer a facility for suppliers to submit offers for environmentally friendly alternatives.

Energy Procurement

• To obtain the best possible contracting arrangements with the key energy supplier for electricity and gas supplies taking account of green energy requirements.

Environmental Construction, Biodiversity and Recycling

• Set targets for carbon management, BREEAM or equivalent standards and sustainable construction, refurbishment and maintenance.
• Fulfil Council obligations under the Biodiversity duty as part of sustainable development plans.
• Investigate the opportunities for the recycling and re-use of materials where appropriate.

Socio-Economic

• Fully support the Councils commitment to the Small Business Friendly Concordat and Voluntary and Community Sector Compact.
• Ensure that where appropriate and allowable, sustainability criteria are part of the supplier evaluation process and are used in the award of contracts.

Engaging Suppliers

• Communicate the Council's environmental and sustainability objectives to our suppliers.
• Encourage and persuade suppliers to adopt environmentally friendly processes and supply environmentally friendly goods and services as part of their corporate Social Responsibility.
• Address barriers to the Council doing business with small business and voluntary sectors.

Measurements and results

• Comply with legislation relevant to sustainability
• Collaborate with all Sussex Councils to meet the targets of the Joint Action Plan
• Support achievement of the Councils targets for sustainability improvement.

Equality Issues in Public Procurement

• Raise awareness with contractors on the need to comply with the Council's Equality Policies through its Pre-Qualification Questionnaire process and contractual documentation.
• Actively monitor contractors to ensure adherence to the Council's requirements on equalities by adopting the Government's Equality Framework for Local Government.