Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Finance, Property and Transformation

Forward Plan Ref: 2025/252

Contact: Max Button, Sustainable Supply Chain Office

Max.button@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Director of Finance and Commercial Services (CA8)

This item updates the existing Social Value Policy and significantly changes the way the Council deals with social value, moving away from working with a third party to an entirely in house system. This allows the Council to better align its social value priorities with Council strategic objectives.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a) Approve the Oxfordshire County Council Social Value Policy (Annex 1).

b) Agree to move the council’s social value approach in- house, transitioning away from third- party delivery and/or platforms, to enable a more streamlined approach hat better aligns to the council’s Strategic Plan 2025–2028 priorities.

Recommendations approved.

Cabinet had before it a report recommending approval of  a new Oxfordshire County Council Social Value Policy and transfer of the council’s social value work in?house, ending reliance on external platforms. This shift aimed to streamline processes, reduce costs, and better align social value activity with the council’s Strategic Plan 2025–2028.

Councillor Dan Levy, Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation presented the report.

Councillor Levy highlighted the benefits of the proposals such as flexibility, alignment with local priorities, and minor financial savings from not using third-party assessors. The policy defined five priorities: early careers opportunities, supported employment, local area regeneration, youth engagement, and healthy lives, with procurement tenders above £100,000 required to address at least two priorities. Suppliers would be required to submit a social value delivery plan with specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound commitments, and exemptions are provided for certain contracts, such as those under 12 months or limited to voluntary, charity, or social enterprise organisations.

During discussion members

·       expressed support for the with Scrutiny Committee recommendations to embed social value holistically, link with economic strategy and community wealth building, and collaborate with local anchor institutions such as the Oxford Inclusive Economy Partnership.

·       highlighted the role of the Business Intellectual Property Centre in supporting small and start-up businesses, aligning with the policy's aim to encourage local employment and support smaller contracts.

Councillor Levy moved and Councillor Roberts seconded the recommendations and they were approved.

RESOLVED to:-

a)    Approve the Oxfordshire County Council Social Value Policy (Annex 1).

 b) Agree to move the council’s social value approach in- house, transitioning away from third- party delivery and/or platforms, to enable a more streamlined approach that better aligns to the council’s Strategic Plan 2025–2028 priorities.