To review and approve the proposed updates to the Contract Procedure Rules, the Financial Procedure Rules and the Financial Procedure Rules Guidance Notes.  To ensure council financial and contract procedure rules are up to date in order to ensure transparency about how public resources are used and controlled to mitigate the potential for fraud and ensure compliance with relevant legislation.

The committee was informed that updates have been made to the Contract Procedure Rules, mainly to reflect changes in regulation and legislation arising from the Procurement Act, which came into effect in January 2026. 

The committee was invited to review and approve updates to the Contract Procedure Rules (including their guidance notes). The purpose of these updates is to ensure the council’s financial and contract governance arrangements remain current, transparent, and legally compliant.  It was confirmed that no changes are proposed to the Financial Procedure Rules or the associated guidance notes; following a review they remain fit for purpose.

The committee received confirmation that the required changes arising from the Procurement Act have been incorporated into the revised Contract Procedure Rules, following extensive work with legal, commercial services, and finance teams. No further issues were raised, the committee proceeded directly to a vote.

Resolved: That the committee approves the updates to the Contract Procedure Rules in Appendix 1 in the constitution and notes that there are no changes recommended to the Finance Procedure Rules or Finance Procedure Guidance Notes.

The vote was carried unanimously.