Barking and Dagenham Council is updating its financial regulations to align with the Procurement Act 2023, a move agreed upon at the Assembly meeting on Wednesday, 23 July 2025. Councillors addressed various council matters during the meeting, with a focus on ensuring transparency and maximizing opportunities for local businesses.

Councillor Dominic Twomey, Leader of the Council / Labour Group, introduced the report, emphasising the importance of robust financial management, transparency, and adherence to legal standards. He pointed out that the Public Contract Regulations 2015 have been superseded by the Procurement Act 2023, necessitating a revision of the council's financial regulations and contract rules. The Procurement Act 2023 is designed to streamline and modernise public procurement processes, enhance transparency, and foster fair competition.

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It's good practice and indeed statutory duty to deliver sound financial management, ensure transparency and uphold legal and regulatory compliance across the organisation, said Councillor Twomey.

The updated financial regulations and contract rules aim to ensure sound financial management, transparency, and legal compliance across the council. The council aims to maximise opportunities for local businesses to secure council contracts through these revisions to the contract rules1.

The Procurement Act 2023 came into effect for all procurements commenced on or after 24 February 2025. The Assembly agreed to the review of the council's financial regulations and contract rules on Wednesday 23 July 2025.

  1. While specific changes to the financial regulations themselves are not detailed in relation to the Procurement Act 2023, the Assembly report states that the Public Contract Regulations 2015 were repealed and replaced with the Procurement Act 2023. The council reviewed its financial regulations to refine them in light of this new legislation, and the contract rules were revised to take account of these changes. The review of the council's financial regulations and contract rules also aims to ensure transparency. ↩