Agenda item

To approve the revised Social Value Policy.

The Policy and Projects Officer presented the policy and advised that it had been revised following the implementation of the Social Value Portal (SVP). Key points were highlighted including:

·       The Public Sector (Social Value) Act 2012 sets out public sector organisations responsibilities to consider social value in service contracts which means that local authorities must consider economic, social and environmental wellbeing in connection with public services contracts.

·       The SVP would allow the Council to report financial and non-financial data, and measure social value by contract, project, service area, directorate, and the Council as a whole.

·       The reports that could be pulled out of the Portal would be used to demonstrate how much social value was being delivered and this would be reported back to committees.

·       They were working with the Council’s Senior Economic Development Specialist to ensure it linked with the emerging Economic Development Strategy and would ensure that all of the Council documentation referred to prosperity rather than growth.

Councillor Cornell asked for clarification regarding the TOMs, it was confirmed that when a supplier bids for a contract they can select which TOMs related to them, they would need to reach a 10% added social value on top of the contract.

In response to questions from Councillor Davies the Policy and Projects Officer advised that they would be able to provide an example report and that the supplier would pay 0.2% of the contract value. The Senior Policy and Governance Officer also confirmed that she could run a report to advise how many contracts there currently were over £75k.

In response to a question from Councillor Pearson examples were provided of adding social value including the employment of local residents from more disadvantaged areas. The Senior Policy and Governance Officer confirmed that it had to be proportionate and relevant to the subject of the procurement and therefore there was still flexibility. The Chair advised that this was a legal obligation and the SVP would help to prove what measures were being taken.

Councillor Turner advised that the environmental and equality implications in the report should have included some positive implications.

Councillor Craig asked whether the framework would put local companies off from bidding. The Senior Policy and Governance Officer confirmed that the threshold had been set quite high at £75k and that they did not want to create a too onerous process for local businesses. The Policy and Projects Officer further confirmed that a suite of recourses would be provided to suppliers and that they would be able to work closely with them if they needed help.

Councillor Pearcy asked whether they would evaluate and assess how the policy is going. The Policy and Projects Officer confirmed that Officers would be able to pull off reports, an annual corporate report could also be produced which would help them to review progress and supplier feedback would be requested. It was further confirmed that they were in conversation with other local authorities regarding progress with the portal.

Proposed by Councillor Brine and Seconded by Councillor Braun.

On being put to the vote, the motion was carried unanimously.