Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/223

Contact: Becky Spencer, Procurement Policy & Governance Officer Tel: 07912 476711

Report by Director of Law & Governance (CA7).

The purpose of this report is to advise Cabinet on progress towards introducing a Social Value Policy for Oxfordshire County Council, and to request the approvals set out in the Recommendations.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

a)           Approve the draft Social Value Policy, provided as an annex to this report;

b)           Approve the planned implementation of the Social Value Policy, as outlined below.

Recommendations agreed

Cabinet had before it a report to advise on progress towards introducing a Social Value Policy for Oxfordshire County Council.

Councillor Calum Miller, Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the report which set out how social value will become an integral part of procurement policy.  This implements the requirements of the 2012 Social Value Act which was necessary to do by 1 April 2022.

As a result the Council’s significant budget for services will be used to shape the practices of suppliers for the common good and this will have an added benefit in being reflected in their work for other customers.

Councillor Miller described this proposal as a starting point and noted that there was great enthusiasm to go further.  He advocated an evidence-based approach with regular reviews.  He would ensure that scrutiny was involved in that process and apologised that they had not been involved in this first stage.

Councillor Pete Sudbury supported the proposal.  He noted that in Figure 1 on Agenda Page 53, under climate action, “carbon emissions are reduced” was just one item on a long list.  He believed that it should say “climate emissions” to ensure it included all contributors to global warming.  He asked for an assurance that the BEIS guidance on carbon pricing will be incorporated in contracts and tenders at the earliest opportunity.

Councillor Miller responded that for each procurement exercise there will be an opportunity to choose from the menu of Themes, Outcomes and Measures.  He believed that it would be open to the Council to include carbon pricing in procurement policy.

The Chair moved the recommendations.

RESOLVED to:

a)               Approve the draft Social Value Policy, provided as an annex to this report;

b)              Approve the planned implementation of the Social Value Policy, as outlined below.