Manchester City Council - which has a total net budget of £433.2m - has now established two new consultancy frameworks designed to help with the delivery of valuation and property and financial services.
The new frameworks will deliver advice and support to the Council and the service will also be available to trusts, companies and other organisations with whom the Council is associated.
The financial advisory framework has been created to deliver financial and accountancy advice and support and audit services to the Council and organisations associated with it. Manchester City Council has appointed the following companies who will collectively deliver: financial consultancy; corporate finance and venture capital services; tax consultancy; procurement consultancy; accounting services and audit services. These include: BDO Stoy Heywood, Bentley Jennison, Deloitte, Grant Thornton, KPMG, Mpulse and Price Waterhouse Coopers.
The valuation and property consultant's framework has been created to deliver valuation and property advice and support services to the Council and organisations associated with it.
Manchester City Council has also appointed the following companies to deliver: estate management; building repair and condition; specialist development; general valuation and disposal; acquisitions and CPOs; asset valuation; rating advice and appeals strategy; office strategy and property review and asset management advice and services: GVA Grimley, Lambert Smith Hampton, Jones Lang LaSalle, CBRE and Donaldsons.
"Since 2002 Manchester City Council has been establishing framework agreements as part of the procurement of construction works and professional consultancy services.The establishment of frameworks has been identified as a process that Manchester City Council can use to assist with the effective delivery of it’s services and also hit targets set by central Government," comments a spokesman.
The use of frameworks for procurement rather than traditional tendering processes has several benefits. Rather than having to go through a time-consuming and potentially expensive EU procurement process every time the Council requires the required works and/or services, it can make through either a direct appointment or manage a fast track competition.
It creates a comprehensive supply chain that will seek to achieve efficiencies through the opportunities associated with potential repeat work.This way suppliers and their associated services have been pre-assessed for experience, delivery approach, value for money and quality assurance. All parties will benefit from closer longer term working relationships, based on quality improvement and a value for money service, sasy the Council.
Manchester City Council’s executive member for finance, Councillor Sue Murphy, said: “The use of framework arrangements is showing improved service delivery and quality across the city. These new arrangements will support our drive for greater efficiency.”
City treasurer, Richard Paver, said: “These framework arrangements are a key element in the Manchester City Council procurement strategy. Existing frameworks established over the past three years are delivering better value service that hitherto achieved by traditional buying methods.”
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