Councils spend around £91.8 billion annually on procuring services. In England, councils are responsible for adult social care with spending at £16.7 billion in 2024/25.
Background
The Local Government Association (LGA) is the national voice of local government. We work with councils to support, promote and improve local government.
The LGA is a politically led, cross-party organisation that works on behalf of councils to ensure local government has a strong, credible voice with national government. We aim to influence and set the political agenda on the issues that matter to councils, so they can deliver local solutions to national problems.
Councils have long recognised the importance that procurement and commissioning can play in delivering efficiencies, value for money and contributing to transforming service delivery and the potential impact on local, regional and national businesses and jobs.
Councils spend around £91.8 billion annually on procuring services. In England, councils are responsible for adult social care with spending at £16.7 billion in 2024/25.
There's increasing pressure on social care budgets due to rising demand and cost pressures, councils in England are facing a significant funding gap for adult social care, with estimates suggesting a shortfall of at least £3.6 billion.
Membership and scope
The Group membership is made up of local government procurement professionals as well as adult social care leads and commissioners.
The LGA supports the Group by enabling councils to collaborate and share best practice to deliver more effective services with limited resources.
The LGA convene this Group to work with each other as one cohesive voice to:
- provide a sector view to those who shape policy and procurement sector expertise
- identify and share good practice to maximise the benefits of good procurement, as well as communicate and support local government colleagues to adopt any good practice identified.
- learn about new and innovative ways of working.
- engage and work with providers to develop the adult’s services marketplace (led by the Strategic Market: Insight and Relationship Programme (SMIRP) leads for Adult Social Care and input from the Group).
- link to ADASS Commissioning Groups as required.
- link with Partners in Care and Health and other LGA Policy colleagues
- establish links with colleagues from the Dept of Health and Social Care where relevant.
Meeting governance
The LGA will convene, Chair and provide administrative support for all meetings, including circulating all meeting papers/presentations one week in advance of the meeting and produce the meetings notes.
Through the LGA, the Group will report regularly to the National Advisory Group who report to the Improvement Committee of the LGA.
The Group will also input into the identification of the sub-categories and main providers to present through the Strategic Markets: Insights & Relationships Programme (SMIRP).
Meetings and communications
Online meetings will take place quarterly.
Communications, including meeting notes, actions and presentations will be circulated after each meeting by email.
the LGA will when appropriate, collate relevant information, events. Good practice and LGA/Central Government Initiatives to be shared with the Network via emails and the LGA procurement bulletins
Member responsibilities
- To attend (or appoint an appropriate substitute) quarterly meetings
- To contribute to the shaping of the meeting agenda by responding to the proposal/s from the SMIRP Adult Social Care Leads on the next quarterly category theme.
- To engage and contribute to the discussions with key adult’s services providers
- To identify and share good practice with the Group and the wider local government procurement networks
- To promote the work of the Group to colleagues and networks as appropriate
- To make the Group aware of developments, issues and changes in their local area with regards to the procurement of adult’s services.
Confidentiality
The Group is a safe space for the sharing of information, good practice and problem solving. It is an environment where open discussion is supported and encouraged.
The LGA will hold your contact information for use only in relation to the activities of this Group in accordance with the LGA’s Privacy Notice
The terms of reference will be due for review on an annual basis.