Report of the Head of Integrated Commissioning and Procurement and Strategic Lead - Commissioning

This report provides an update on the steps being taken on the Council’s procurement to support carbon reduction and to report on the Council’s consumption-based emissions (Scope 3) and what action is being taken to reduce these including information on the work done to develop the 10% environmental weighting criteria in procurement exercises. The report also outlines some priorities going forward for inclusion in CCAP 2025-30 over the next 5 years.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Integrated Commissioning and Procurement and Strategic Lead, Commissioning that provided an update on the steps being taken on the Council’s procurement to support carbon reduction and to report on the Council’s consumption-based emissions (Scope 3) and what action was being taken to reduce these including information on the work done to develop the 10% environmental weighting criteria in procurement exercises. 

Key points and themes in the report and accompanying presentation included:

·         Providing an introduction and background that included a description of Scope 3;

·         Describing how the activity described supported the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan;

·         Describing the background and rationale for the 10% environmental weighting, including examples across different Council Directorates of results achieved since the 10% weighting had been formally adopted in 2022;

·         An update on Carbon Literacy training rates, noting that the Council had pledged to work towards achieving Gold Carbon Literacy Accreditation by March 2025;

·         Noting that the Integrated Commissioning and Procurement team were working with contract managers across the council to take greater responsibility for challenging specifications for procurement projects to ensure that subject matter experts within services were considering the carbon impact of the specification and developing insightful questions for inclusion in relation to the 10% weighting;

·         Examples of direct action being taken by the Council, such as the approach to Single Use Plastics and the contracts for Manchester Parks Cafes; and

·         Consideration of the approach to the measurement of Scope 3 emissions.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

·         Welcoming the reported innovative work delivered to date;

·         What support was offered to support SME’s (Small and medium-sized enterprises);

·         Was the 10% environmental weighting requirement sufficient;

·         Discussing carbon literacy training and had there been any assessment as to the impact of this;

·         What measures were taken to ensure that potential suppliers were not greenwashing (Greenwashing is the act of making false or misleading statements about the environmental benefits of a product or practice);

·         Do we share good practice with other Local Authorities; and

·         All opportunities, including consideration of Planning applications should support this work.

The Head of Integrated Commissioning and Procurement and Strategic Lead, Commissioning said that the 10% weighting would be assessed by using a set of standard questions in addition to a number of bespoke questions that were applicable to the specific nature of a contract. He said that the 10% weighting applied to all contracts and that this was an appropriate level in the context of national procurement guidance so as to avoid legal challenge and to ensure the correct balance was struck with quality, adding that new national procurement regulations were expected soon. He commented that Manchester was leading the way both locally and nationally on this area of activity and that knowledge and good practice was shared with GM partners and other core cities. He commented that s106 funding secured via planning developments often delivered environmental improvements. He advised that guidance and support was offered to SME’s and feedback was provided to all unsuccessful applicants. In response to the discussion regarding carbon literacy training he advised that to achieve and maintain the ongoing accreditation status the Council had to demonstrate and evidence delivery and impact.

The Strategic Lead, Commissioning advised that the delivery of the 10% weighting would be assessed and monitored as part of the agreed contract management arrangements, in a similar way as to the delivery of the Social Value element of contracts were monitored. He stated that a new contract management system was being introduced and this would improve this work by enabling the monitoring of more specific environmental KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators). He said that the City of London maintained a list of top suppliers and consideration was being given as to if this would be appropriate for Manchester. In regard to carbon literacy training, he said this was delivered both face to face and via e-learning. He commented that there was a challenge surrounding resources to delivering this training. He said that carbon literacy training sessions were delivered to the different commissioning teams, adding that these sessions were very well received, and the learning adopted by staff. In addition to this, events were held with suppliers, and carbon literacy was included as part of that engagement activity, adding that carbon offsetting was never condoned.

The Chair, in concluding this item of business paid tribute to the team for their innovative approach to the procurement process and recognising the important and significant contribution this played in delivering the carbon budget for the city. She also acknowledged the awards that the team had received in recognition of their work.

Decision

To note the report.