Anyone have a council customer?

DKLS

I recently tendered to provide a service to the local council.

As part of the process, I had to submit all kinds of information, I finally won the tender based on price, but then in order to proceed they wanted the following from me:

Copy of my HR policy
Breakdown of staffs sexuality, gender and religion
and Finally a copy of my bullying policy.

What the shuddering !!!!!

Is this normal when working with councils?, I had to spend Friday morning poring over university websites in order to create this vital documentation. Next time I tender I will add on 15% to cover this sort of crap.

leveller2911

I did a few Council Grants contracts years ago and they were ,by far the worse at paying their invoices I've ever had.......

Good luck ...........

phill99

This is standard practice on all council and public sector tenders now, as well as many large companies. Its the reason I refuse to tender for public sector works. I have to question whether they have the right to know about someones sexuality. I would not provide this info as it yas nothing to do with the work being undertaken.

Ad 15% to your next tender and you will be unlikely to get the job!

comeandgo

Yes those requests are standard box ticking exercises from council. My experiences of payment though was all the councils paid within contract time or even earlier if they were wanting to spend their money prior to 31st March.

SailorSam

When i was on the Cabs the Council would issue a list of contacts for the schools. We'd have to put in a price for running the kids to school. They could be a pain and lots of drivers never wanted them. But the Fleet owners would tender for everything then subtender. I often got one that started near my home to start the day off. Can't remember asking to many details but they were fairly simple jobs. Sometimes if it were kids going to special schools we'd have to find a 'minder' to be in the Cab with us.

DKLS

phill99 wrote: »

This is standard practice on all council and public sector tenders now, as well as many large companies. Its the reason I refuse to tender for public sector works. I have to question whether they have the right to know about someones sexuality. I would not provide this info as it yas nothing to do with the work being undertaken.

Ad 15% to your next tender and you will be unlikely to get the job!

They did agree to a 7.5% annual uplift in the contract so while not quite 15% it should cover any more council shenanigans. Payment terms I have been very firm on with penalties for late payments, if they breach them I have an additional safe guard in that I can switch off their digital service in about 3 seconds, so hopefully payment terms will be kept to.

I would never ask my staff what religion if any they practice or if they like man sausage or not, their lifestyle choices are irrelevant to me and should be irrelevant to the council, all they should be concerned with is that I deliver the service to the agreed terms.

I wonder how much all this crap costs industry and ultimately the tax payer?

ohreally

DKLS wrote: »

Copy of my HR policy
Breakdown of staffs sexuality, gender and religion
and Finally a copy of my bullying policy.

What the shuddering !!!!!

Is this normal when working with councils?

I can guarantee this may only be the start. One council I deal with also want risk assessments and method statements, they are not required but for a tick box exercise.

Next, it'll be policies on flexible working, parental leave, alcohol/ substance misuse, data protection, equal ops, I could go on and on and on.

Savvy_Sue

I was surprised that was all you were asked for ...

ohreally wrote: »

I can guarantee this may only be the start. One council I deal with also want risk assessments and method statements, they are not required but for a tick box exercise.

Business interruption policy, anyone? Data protection policy, in extensive details too. Can't remember what else we were asked to provide for one contract, even though we are the only plausible local provider. I know it was all a bit of a palaver.

ohreally wrote: »

Next, it'll be policies on flexible working, parental leave, alcohol/ substance misuse, data protection, equal ops, I could go on and on and on.

Yup.

BTW, you obviously don't ask your staff to tell you personal information which is none of your business. You invite them all to complete a confidential questionnaire and return it anonymously. [You then spend the next few months wondering who ticked the box for a category you didn't know you'd got! :rotfl:]

colino

The most important thing, if you run a high quality business and have publicly funded clients, is to ensure you price your services accordingly. They spend an absolute fortune on their procurement systems and procedures (no matter how inappropriate they are) and if you are any good, you find yourself being included in their audits as examples of good practice!
Never be too sharp on your prices with them, the additional admin and pointless reviews aren't normal, or free, business practices.

paddyrg

It's a hefty hurdle, indicative of further hurdles down the way. I sometimes work with one of the biggest event production directors - and his company wanted to bid for LOCOG (another public body) work - and found the burden staggering!

That said, once you jump all the hurdles, you're on a preferred supplier list, and will find it easier to tender for successive public body jobs. And those hurdles also keep other entrants/bidders out of the market!

DKLS

colino wrote: »

The most important thing, if you run a high quality business and have publicly funded clients, is to ensure you price your services accordingly. They spend an absolute fortune on their procurement systems and procedures (no matter how inappropriate they are) and if you are any good, you find yourself being included in their audits as examples of good practice!
Never be too sharp on your prices with them, the additional admin and pointless reviews aren't normal, or free, business practices.

Thankfully I added a line to the contract that has a 7% annual uplift on costs, and there is a very healthy margin in this so that should cover some additional admin related fun.