04/05/2011

NAO repeats the lessons that need to be learnt from PFI problems

PLC Public Sector reports:

The clock ticks over to 6.00 am and Sonny and Cher break out into yet another rendition of “I Got You Babe”.   A weary hand reaches out and knocks the alarm clock from the bedside table, breaking it.  No, it is not Bill Murray fearing yet another visit to see a large rodent forecast the weather, this particular Groundhog Day belongs to whoever is responsible at the National Audit Office (NAO) for reporting on the use of PFI by the government.

On 28 April 2011, the latest report, Lessons from PFI and other projects, was published.  It highlights the same issues that have featured in numerous previous reports.  Will lessons be learnt this time? The NAO hopes that the government’s introduction of the Major Projects Authority (MPA) and stronger project assurance requirements means they will.

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27/04/2011

Local government views on reforming the public procurement regime

PLC Public Sector reports:

In response to the European Commission’s Green Paper on the modernisation of EU public procurement policy, the Local Government Group (LGG) has set out its wish list of reforms.  In short, the LGG wants:

  • The public procurement regime to apply to far less contracts.
  • The regime to allow far more freedom to negotiate and generally run the process when it does apply.
  • To greatly reduce the risk of legal challenge to procurement processes.

It seems unlikely that these overarching goals will be achieved, however the LGG paper makes many sound points, which we hope are not lost in light of its over ambitious general tone.

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