Tameside Council joins Star Procurement

Tameside Council has signed up to Star, the shared procurement body used by Stockport, Trafford, and Rochdale councils for public contracts.

The local authority is joining the procurement body, which was set up in 2014 and has awarded circa £1bn contracts since its foundation.

Contracts typically procured by Star include highways works, consultancy services, public construction projects, and property services.

Current tenders include a £500m framework covering a plethora of consultancy services such as masterplanning, architecture, and civil engineering; this was launched in May this year and will include 110 companies once awarded. As well as being available to Star members, this particular framework can also be used by all of Greater Manchester’s local authorities.

Previously awarded contracts include a £19m deal to build and refurbish seven care homes in Stockport.

Contracts awarded through the framework are typically scored on social value, including contribution to local businesses and social, economic, and environmental benefits.

Cllr Mike Cordingley, executive member for finance at Trafford Council, said: “We are excited about our future direction and the results we have produced, and will achieve, through collaboration. Procurement is so much more than putting contracts in place.

“It’s about trying to ensure that we find ways to boost local economies and ask our suppliers to be socially responsible when they do business with us and for us.”