Decision details

Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive regarding business efficiency and a review of financial thresholds.

With the agreement of the Chairman, Councillor House addressed Cabinet expressing concern about a reduction in transparency should more decisions be taken in private. He also noted that the increase in the Key Decision threshold was not in line with inflation.

The report was presented and it was highlighted in particular that the increase in the Key Decision threshold to £2 million reflected the substantial change in significance of contractual value to departmental budgets since the previous review. It was furthermore noted that the alternative “significant impact” criteria for a Key Decision remained and was regardless of monetary value. It was explained that the revision to tendering procedures created an efficient alignment between any waiver decision and the decision maker.

Cabinet welcomed the report, noting that recommendations were based on lessons learned, that there must always be a balance between transparency and efficiency and that these changes didn’t preclude Cabinet Members from making a decision on a matter that could be decided by officers where it was appropriate to do so.

The recommendations set out in the report were considered and agreed. A

decision record is attached to these minutes.