Rules and regulations

As a local authority, there are directives and regulations at European, national and local level which the council has to follow when procuring goods, services and works.

European rules

All public sector contracts within the European Union are subject to a treaty which incorporates the free movement of goods and services and which prevents discrimination against suppliers on the grounds of nationality.

Contracts over the European Procurement Thresholds are subject to procurement processes that are specified by European Procurement Legislation including advertisement across Europe via the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) and conducted to specified timescales.

• View the OJEU notice board.
• View details of the latest EU directives and legislation.
• View the most recent threshold levels which require the full application of the European tendering regulations.

Local rules

Procurement activities must also comply with the Council’s Constitution and follow some basic principles:

• Contracts or purchases between £0 and £10,000 require one written quote.
• Contracts between £10,001 and £74,999 are subject to competitive quotations obtained from at least three contractors, or if this is not possible from all capable contractors.
• Contracts over £74,999 have to be competitively tendered and this will be handled by the Procurement Department.