A report published today is recommending a new approach to outsourcing and procurement at Southwark Council. Proposals include introducing an in-house "preferred provider" policy, a target for creating local jobs and apprenticeships with council spending and greater protection for the workforce. Southwark’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) is publishing an investigation into the council’s approach to commissioning, procurement and outsourcing. You can see the full draft report here . Changes will be made to this following our OSC meeting on the 19 th January where the committee will discuss the draft. This is a huge issue. Southwark Council’s register of contracts with external organisations shows 220 different contracts for goods and services. That accounts for a total contract value of £2.6 billion. A huge range of services, from the building of new schools to employment support services to homecare for vulnerable residents, ar...