Promoting equality through procurement matters. Procurement is the full range of activities related to purchasing goods, services and works. Eastbourne Homes is a major purchaser of services. We purchase many things so that we can carry out our work and deliver our services and every year we issue contracts worth millions of pounds. All customers, whatever their background, have a right to expect that the money we spend on contractors to deliver our services suit their needs and are delivered in a way which promotes equality of opportunity and high quality goods and services.
Legislation states that the way in which goods and services are delivered must not have an unequal impact on any particular groups. This extends to the suppliers and subcontractors used by Eastbourne Homes. Which although must not discriminate, do not have the same legal obligation to promote equality of opportunity. Therefore we must ensure race, disability and other equality considerations are built into the procurement & tender process to ensure each function meets equality-related requirements, regardless of who is carrying it out.
We are currently reviewing Equality and Diversity in Procurement to assist our staff, our suppliers and contractors to follow best practice in equalities in Procurement. In the past the rules we have used to determine from whom we purchase these services or goods have largely been based on value for money. We recognise however that our spending power gives us the chance to influence how others work too.
Our procurement review will be looking at the following:
Cease issuing contracts to, purchasing from or commissioning any contractor, business or organisation, where we believe they fail to comply with our values in relation to equality and diversity
In addition we will be reviewing our own policies and practices and where necessary make changes to them to ensure they do not discriminate or place unfair requirements on small businesses from Eastbourne.
If you would like to be involved in reviewing our procurement practices or feel you have been discriminated against by one of our contractors please contact Traci Gasson, Equality and Diversity Co-Ordinator.
