Council Explores Ways to Boost Small Business Access to Contracts

A COUNCIL is considering how small and medium sized firms can compete for more of its contracts. 
Torfaen Borough Council agreed a three year procurement framework with Cardiff council in 2022 intended to set out standards it wants suppliers to meet and which was described as having the potential to provide opportunities for local firms to win council contracts. 
But councillor Peter Jones, the Labour cabinet member for resources, said it is akcnowledged small and medium sized enterprises still face “barriers” to winning council contracts. 
He said: “The council has done some work on the framework to see how local small and medium sized enterprises are able to compete more effectively for council business while encouraging competitive tendering and adequate safeguards.” 
He was responding to a question from Llantarnam independent councillor David Thomas who asked if the council has, or would consider, a framework for “local Torfaen businesses” so they can benefit from council contracts, including “lower-cost” building work. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​