Procurement equality and diversity

The new duties placed on public bodies since 2000 mean that the Council must actively promote equalities in procurement and partnership.

The Equality Framework for Local Government (EFLG) is a performance improvement and benchmarking tool. It builds on and develops the work that councils have done on the Equality Standard for Local Government (ESLG). The EFLG contains many new features, is simpler to use and more relevant to the way local authorities work today.

Wirral has a statutory duty to ensure that we do not spend public money on practices that lead to unfair racial discrimination. We are committed to equal opportunities and encourage those who supply us with goods or services to practise equal opportunities.

In recognition of this policy, equality issues are included in our procurement process. We seek assurances from suppliers about their commitment to equality through our standard Pre-Qualification Questionnaire/Tender documentation. This requires applicants to answer equalities questions to ensure that they abide by the law and that they are working to best practice in this area.

The Council has made a corporate commitment to the following equality objectives within its Equality and Diversity Policy

(i) To eliminate unlawful discrimination

(ii) To promote Equality of Opportunity

(iii) To promote good relations between people in a diverse community

The Council spends public money every year on contracts with private and voluntary organisations for works, goods and services. It is essential that we ensure this investment is consistent with our wider equality obligations.

To this end the Council will use all of the powers available, including the provisions of the Local Government Act 1988, the Transfer of Undertakings - Protection of Employment Regulations (TUPE) 1981, the Race Relations Act 1976 (Amended 2000), the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Code of Practice on Workforce Matters in Local Council Service Contracts to ensure that equalities issues are addressed in the procurement of goods, works and services. The Council will target three principle areas:

(i) Employment - the employment policies, procedures and practice of organisations that hold contracts

(ii) Service Delivery - ensuring the development of the provision of services that are equally accessible and ensure consultation with users where appropriate

(iii) Monitoring the impact of contracting from an equalities perspective

More information regarding Race Relations can be found within the Home Office website.

More information regarding equality and diversity in procurement can be found in both the Corporate Procurement Strategy and Wirral Council's Sustainability Policy.