The Comox Valley Regional District has received the audit of its performance on operational procurement from the Auditor General for Local Government (AGLG), following a two year process that involved extensive data collection and audit field work, which included board member and staff interviews, document review, and procurement transactions assessment.
The objective of the audit was to determine whether the CVRD managed operational procurement strategically and with due regard for value for money during the period audited, 2010 to 2012.
The AGLG found that the CVRD met the majority of the auditor’s expectations, had a good foundation for operational procurement, and was using many operational procurement practices that supported the potential achievement of best value. The AGLG also found that, to meet operational procurement objectives more fully, the CVRD would need to build on its existing good practices, fill gaps in its procurement-related policies and procedures, and undertake additional analysis, monitoring and reporting.
“We are committed to working towards improvement in the three areas identified for improvement by the AGLG,” said Bruce Jolliffe, chair of the CVRD board of directors. “We have already drafted a corporate action plan on policy improvements to enhance guidance for staff in their procurement responsibilities. The AGLG’s recommendation related to developing and implementing key performance indicators relating to procurement will require additional staff resources, as the CVRD does not have a purchasing department.”
CVRD staff completed all work related to the audit within the framework provided by the AGLG. The CVRD had been waiting for results of the audit in order to include any resulting recommendations in bylaw or policy updates. With the audit finalized, staff are now in a position to move forward in researching best practices in local government procurement, and bring forward revised policies for the board’s consideration.
The AGLG’s report relating to CVRD operational procurement can be found here: www.aglg.ca.
