Businesses in Angus could be set to pick up more trade from their local council after the authority’s chief executive revealed he has set up a review of procurement by officials.
Richard Stiff told dozens of business leaders the authority had established a new working group to see if more contracts could be handed to local firms within the strict rules governing public-sector buying.
He said the continuing reorganisation of the council under austerity budget cuts would lead to his organisation forging a new relationship with businesses and community groups as a “commissioning body”.
The news came as the appointment of David Valentine the county’s former head of economic development, now an international businessman in his own right as the new vice-president of Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce was announced at a Kinettles Castle business breakfast.
Mr Stiff said his authority was going through wholesale changes in its approach, caused, in part, by the cuts required in its budget.
But he stressed the council routinely paid millions of pounds into the local economy, with tens of millions more paid out on capital contracts.
“Our employees are, by-and-large, your customers,” Mr Stiff told his audience of business leaders. “We spend about 70% of our revenue budget on wages and salaries, so you can see the economic impact locally of our existence.
“The council also spends a large amount on materials and on resources.
“There is a project, which is currently established, to look at whether we can spend more of our cash locally but while staying on the right side of the law,” he said.
“There is perhaps more latitude in these arrangements than we have previously recognised.”
Mr Stiff said Angus Council would change from a body which does things to one which “gets things done”.
The gathering of prospective and current Chamber members also heard from Neil Prentice, council senior service manager for economic development.
He is managing the implementation of a new strategy which highlights challenges for Angus-based businesses including poor connectivity through public transport links, broadband and mobile internet access, low business start-up rates, below-average salaries, poor staff retention and an ageing population.
However, his report also highlights opportunities for the area, including in the renewable energy and oil and gas sectors, tourism and also food and drink.
The draft strategy is out for consultation, and Mr Prentice urged businesses to comment on its proposals to help the council safeguard the “prosperity and sustainability of the county”.
Chamber president Jim Pickett said the appointment of Mr Valentine as his deputy would help his organisation increase its punch outside Dundee.
“The name of the chamber is Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce and we want to promote our presence in Angus,” he said.