Brent Council's Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee has scrutinised the council's spending with local businesses, highlighting concerns over the low percentage of council spend directed towards them. During a meeting on Wednesday, 2 September 2026, councillors reviewed the progress of the Procurement Improvement Programme (PIP), which has seen significant achievements in building procurement team capacity and improving contract management.

A diverse group of people are gathered around a table in a modern meeting room, engaged in a discussion with a large screen displaying a video conference.
A diverse group of people are gathered around a table in a modern meeting room, engaged in a discussion with a large screen displaying a video conference.

Officers confirmed that the PIP has successfully recruited into all previously vacant positions within the Procurement Team, which had experienced vacancy rates exceeding 50% for an extended period. This recruitment drive, including the appointment of a new permanent Head of Procurement, has led to staff retention and a significantly better position to deliver subsequent improvements.

In terms of contract management, a new, more robust contract register is being implemented to enhance visibility of expiring contracts. Furthermore, a new Contract Management Framework has been developed to align with the latest Procurement Strategy and Improvement Programme, replacing an outdated version. A Contract Management Community of Practice has been established to oversee continuous improvement in this area.

Despite these internal improvements, a key concern raised during the meeting was the limited engagement with local suppliers. Currently, 7.6% of private sector spending was with businesses based in Brent. The Procurement Strategy 2026-2031 aims to Increase opportunities for local suppliers, SMEs and VCSEs through early market engagement and simplified procurement processes, though a specific target percentage for local spending is not explicitly stated. Historically, a lack of capacity within the procurement team to actively engage with local businesses has been identified as a primary reason for this low engagement.

A diagram illustrating three cornerstones of a strategy: Community Wealth Building, Effective Contract Management, and Leadership, Commercial Capability and Innovation, with cyclical arrows indicating interaction.
A diagram illustrating three cornerstones of a strategy: Community Wealth Building, Effective Contract Management, and Leadership, Commercial Capability and Innovation, with cyclical arrows indicating interaction.

Officers confirmed that work is underway to address this, including updating website pages and holding market engagement events. These initiatives aim to increase opportunities for local businesses to supply Brent Council, build relationships, and raise awareness of tendering opportunities through regular local Meet the Buyer days. The council is also exploring ways to work with larger suppliers to strengthen their local supply chains and potentially offer incentives, such as a small reward in contract criteria for local contractors or those utilising local provisions.

Councillor Trevor Blackman proposed a recommendation for the procurement team to consider social media advertising to further promote local business engagement. This suggestion was met with agreement, with the intention to review progress in three to six months. The meeting's agenda and public reports pack can be found at Agenda frontsheet Wednesday 02-Sep-2026 18.00 Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee and Public reports pack Wednesday 02-Sep-2026 18.00 Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee.

A diverse group of individuals collaborates around a laptop, discussing project details in a modern office setting.
A diverse group of individuals collaborates around a laptop, discussing project details in a modern office setting.