The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 states that all public bodies, like local councils, should think about how the services they buy and provide can help improve their area. This includes making it better economically, socially and environmentally.

Focusing on procurement to deliver social value is not new for us. Previous procurement strategies have explained how we aim to achieve the best value, which means:

“to secure continuous improvement in the exercise of all functions undertaken by the authority having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness”.

Under this duty, councils should look at overall value, including economic, environmental and social value when reviewing services. Social value means:

“seeking to maximise the additional benefit that can be created by procuring or commissioning goods and services, above and beyond the benefit or merely the goods and services themselves”.

The Social Value Act does not require public sector works, goods, or service contracts below the European Union tender threshold to include social value. However, we aim to consider social value and other sustainability factors in all publicly tendered contracts wherever possible, in a way that is proportionate and appropriate.