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New watchdog for procurement - the Procurement Review Unit

11 September 2024

Important regulatory changes are being made that will affect how local authority procurement activities are monitored. These changes come in response to the new Procurement Act 2023, which brings stricter regulations to ensure that all public procurement is conducted fairly, transparently, and in the best interest of the public.


To oversee these new regulations, the Cabinet Office has set up the Procurement Review Unit (PRU). This unit is responsible for ensuring that local authorities are following the rules when we buy goods, services, or carry out construction projects.

The PRU's main role is to:

  • ensure compliance: the PRU will check that our procurement activities comply with the new rules. This means they will look at how we choose suppliers, how contracts are awarded, and how we manage these contracts once they are in place
  • conduct reviews and audits: the PRU will review our procurement processes and may conduct audits to make sure everything is done correctly. They will look at our records and decisions to ensure that we are being fair and transparent in our dealings with suppliers
  • provide guidance: if the PRU finds that something isn't being done correctly, they will provide guidance on how to fix it. This helps us avoid any legal issues and ensures we are getting the best value for public money

Adapting to new regulations

As we adapt to the new regulations, our procurement team will need to amend some of our current procurement processes to ensure full compliance with the Procurement Act 2023. These changes are necessary to meet the new standards and to avoid any potential legal issues.

If you have any questions about the new act, contact the procurement team, email countyprocurementcompliance.team@derbyshire.gov.uk

We appreciate your support as we work to meet these important new requirements.