Procurement Policy
Barnet Council recently abandoned an IT procurement process due to a bidder's non-compliant cost increase.
Barnet Council recently abandoned a procurement process for IT services, deciding in September 2026 to bring these services in-house. This decision followed a preferred bidder's attempt to increase its costs by approximately £1 million after the original bid, which was deemed impermissible under procurement rules, according to a Cabinet Member Decision Meeting.
In July 2025, Waltham Forest Council adopted a new Procurement Policy, aligning its practices with the Procurement Act 2023 and the National Procurement Policy Statement 2025. The updated policy aims to ensure ethical, sustainable, and inclusive procurement, supporting the council's strategic objectives, a Cabinet meeting heard.
Key facts
- Barnet Council decided to bring its IT End User and Managed Infrastructure services back in-house in September 2026. Source
- A procurement process for a new IT contract was abandoned by Barnet Council in September 2026. Source
- A preferred bidder sought to increase its bid costs by approximately £1 million for Barnet Council's IT contract. Source
- Waltham Forest Council adopted a new Procurement Policy in July 2025. Source
- Waltham Forest's new policy aligns with the Procurement Act 2023 and the National Procurement Policy Statement 2025. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.