If approved, the report will be published on the council’s website in line with statutory requirements under the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014.
The report provides an overview of procurement activity between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, including the scale of council spend, supplier diversity and steps taken to maintain value for money and transparency.
Key points for 2024/25:
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The council spent around £285 million across goods, services and works during the reporting period.
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The council has a supplier base of 3881 suppliers, with 40.8% of suppliers having a registered address within Dumfries and Galloway – reflecting the council’s ongoing commitment to work with local businesses.
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A broader, more competitive market engagement was also demonstrated through a higher number of suppliers securing contracts during the year, supporting an even more diverse supply base.
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Ongoing ‘Meet the Buyer’ activity to encourage local businesses to access council contract opportunities and speak directly with officers about pipeline work.
Councillor John Campbell, Chair of the Enabling and Customer Services Committee, said ahead of the meeting:
“This report shows continued, constructive engagement with our supplier base to deliver essential goods, works and services for Dumfries and Galloway. It underlines our commitment to open, transparent procurement that supports local firms, drives value for money and helps deliver better outcomes for our communities.”
Councillor Ben Dashper, Vice-Chair, added:
“We want our procurement approach to be easy to understand and easy to access for local businesses. The continued programme of ‘Meet the Buyer’ sessions – held both in the east and west of the region – and clearer pipelines help smaller firms see where opportunities are coming from and how to get involved.”