Plaid Cymru AM Dr. Dai Lloyd has welcomed the news that Swansea Council is to look at how to encourage local businesses to bid for Council Contracts.

The issue was debated at Swansea Council’s six-weekly meeting on Thursday evening where Plaid Cymru group Leader Darren Price argued that the Council should be doing more to promote local procurement.

The Swansea Administration has now committed itself to discuss the issue either at full council or at a relevant Cabinet Advisory Committee.

Dr. Dai Lloyd, Shadow Local Government Minister at the Assembly, stated:

“I was pleased to hear that Swansea Council has committed itself to looking into this important issue. I have long felt that we in Wales have a tendency of not doing enough to promote and encourage local procurement within our respective authorities.

“Local Authorities across Wales have a huge role to play in developing both their local and regional economies and local procurement can play a significant part in that.

“Councils across Wales spend millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money every year on goods and services, but far too much of that money is leaked to outside and sometimes foreign firms.”

Dr. Lloyd added:

“Where there is a lack of provision locally it is only right that local authorities go elsewhere but I believe that some goods and services are being purchased from further a field even though they are available locally at a reasonable price.

“One example in Swansea is that Council owned cars and vans have been purchased from across the border in England. I cannot understand for one minute that these vehicles could not have been purchased in South Wales. This of course is just one example, but I believe that it is the council’s duty to ensure that all is being done to encourage local firms to bid for these contracts.”

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