Agenda item

Report from the Assistant Chief Executive.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:-

1.    Receive the annual report, noting the social value commitments along with outcomes delivered. 

2.    Approve the use of the new national TOMs (Themes, Outcomes, Measures) as detailed in Appendix 2.

3.    Approve that the key priorities for 2025 include: 

a.    Continuing the work on employee ownership. 

b.    Delivering the partnership social value action plan with Social Value Portal, working towards the delivery of increased social value commitments across Rotherham’s anchor network. 

c.     Delivering further support to local businesses through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund social value project.

d.    Upskilling Council staff through training initiatives and one-to-one support. 

Consideration was given to the report which presented an update on progress towards the priorities set out in the Council’s Social Value Policy, including the amount of social value committed and delivered through Council contracts. Priorities were also set for the following 12 months. Since the last annual report in March 2024, good progress had continued to be made in achieving the aspirations set out in the Policy. Social value commitments now stood at £32m and, importantly these commitments were increasingly translating into delivery with the validated social value delivered totalling £12.3 million.

The National Themes, Outcomes and Measures (TOMs) framework, developed by the National Social Value Task Force, provided a clear definition of social value and a corresponding measurement tool for transparent and robust reporting. The Council had selected measures from the National TOMs that would positively impact the economic, social, and environmental wellbeing of the Rotherham community. These TOMs focussed on Employment and Skills, directing suppliers to deliver additional benefits in this area.

Appendix 1 provided details of the measures that the Council’s suppliers had committed to and delivered against on contracts procured and awarded between December 2019 and November 2024. Highlights were set out in section 2 of the report.

The Council achieved accreditation as a Living Wage employer from the Living Wage Foundation in September 2021. In 2024, this status was successfully retained for a third year. As a result, the Council continued to display the Real Living Wage logo in its communications and publicity materials. Currently, the Council ensured that all its staff received the Real Living Wage, which stood at £12.60 per hour. Additionally, the Council was committed to extending this standard to all in scope contracts.

The amount of Council expenditure being spent locally had continued to increase from £77.2m in 2022/23 to £105.5m in 2023/24. This was an increase of  £28.3m or 36.7%. Whilst a greater absolute amount of council expenditure was being spent locally, the proportionate share of expenditure had decreased from 27.9% in 2022/23 to 24% in 2023/24.

The annual social value showcase for 2024 took place in July, attracting 67

attendees, including 38 from the private sector and 29 from the public sector.

The event featured several workshops covering key issues such as supply

chain opportunities and bidding for public sector contracts.

The Rotherham UKSPF social value project saw Go4Growth and Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber deliver a series of events and interventions in 2024/25 to support local businesses. Details of these were set out in paragraph 2.8.1 of the report. Appendix 3 included several case studies that helped to bring some of the activity described in the report to life and described the real life impact on residents and communities.

The key actions for 2025/26 built on the progress made in 2024/25. This included advancing the community wealth-building aspirations set out in the Social Value Policy, as well as continuing the partnership programme with anchor organisations, and delivering further staff training, particularly aiming to ensure that social value commitments were delivered through effective contract management. This was supported by investment from the Council’s budget and further funding that had been secured from UKSPF, which would also enable continuation of the work with local businesses delivered by the Chamber and Go4Growth. Work would continue on:

-       Employee ownership

-       The development of anchor networks

-       Upskilling Council Staff

-       Supporting local businesses

The report was considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB), who advised that the recommendations be supported.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:-

1.    Receive the annual report, noting the social value commitments along with outcomes delivered.

2.    Approve the use of the new national TOMs (Themes, Outcomes, measures) as detailed in Appendix 2.

3.    Approve that the key priorities for 2025 include:

a.    Continuing the work on employee ownership.

b.    Delivering the partnership social value action plan with Social Value Portal, working towards the delivery of increased social value commitments across Rotherham’s anchor network.

c.     Delivering further support to local businesses through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund social value project.

d.    Upskilling Council staff through training initiatives and one-to-one support.