The report, which is a legal requirement, will be discussed at a meeting of the council’s executive committee next Tuesday.

A key ambition of the council’s procurement strategy is to support local businesses, jobs and the economy, and the amount spend with third parties operating within the Borders increased from £75.9m in 2018/19 to £77.1m in 2019/20. This is over 44% of the total council spent with third parties.

Councillor Mark Rowley, executive member for economic regeneration and finance, said: “Every penny we spend with local businesses is important, even more so at a time such as this, so I am delighted that we continue to be able to increase the amount of money that is going directly into the local economy.

“It is important to understand the wider impact this £77m will have. Clearly it provides income for the successful businesses, but in turn that helps them to invest in their staff, both protecting local jobs and opening up opportunities to expand. A proportion of the wages of staff will then be spent with other local businesses, which continues the cycle of local investment.

“As we approach Christmas I’d appeal to Borderers to help support and sustain local businesses by keeping as much of their spending local. Please don’t let the current travel restrictions push you online for your Christmas shopping – hit the Borders’ high streets with your face coverings, shop local, shop safely and support our communities.”

The report also outlines how the council is working to make best use of its resources and also derive other benefits from its contracts and spending. This includes community benefit clauses in contracts which have delivered jobs, apprenticeships, training and educational activities.

Communities have also benefited, for example with the provision of salt spreaders to some “Resilient Community” groups who wanted to play their part in tackling winter weather. These were donated by the council’s winter salt provider.