4.3. The new legislation places greater emphasis on transparency, contract lifecycle management, supplier engagement and the delivery of public benefit. These reforms present an opportunity for the Council to further develop its commercial capability and strengthen procurement practices.

4.4. In response, the Council has continued to invest in the development of commissioning, procurement and contract management arrangements. This includes improving governance structures, developing commercial skills, embedding stronger planning arrangements and increasing organisational focus on contract management and supplier performance.

4.5. The Council's approach recognises that successful procurement outcomes are dependent not only on the procurement exercise itself but on effective commissioning, market engagement, contract mobilisation and ongoing contract management.

4.6. A key factor in bringing all the improvement initiatives and ambition remains procurement and implementation of a new 'Source to Contract technology for the Council, which will embed the new ways of working, improving accountability and increasing value for money.

5.1. The Commissioning Modernisation Programme was established to modernise how the Council commissions services from third-party organisations. The Commissioning Modernisation Programme is addressing service redesign within commissioning, procurement and contract management.

5.2. There needs to be a corporate understanding of the difference between the functions of commissioning and procurement within the commissioning lifecycle (process). Procurement and Commissioning are both decision making processes for deciding how to use the total resources available to improve outcomes and purchase works, goods or services in the most efficient, effective, equitable and sustainable way.