Agenda item

Report from the Assistant Chief Executive.

Recommendations:

1.    That the annual report is received noting the increased social value commitments along with outcomes achieved.

2.    That Cabinet agree the following key priorities for 2023 include:

a.    Continue to embed the foundations of strong social value delivery through contract manager and supplier learning and development, tools and evaluation.

b.    Support new and existing businesses to enter into new markets, from which the Council buys goods and services through the work of Rotherham Investment and Development Office and meet the buyer events.

c.     Hold a Social Value celebration event for suppliers to showcase impact and inspire others.

d.    Formally launch Rotherham Social Value Anchor Networks to raise awareness and engagement of more partners.

Consideration was given to the report which set out the key achievements over the year to the end of November 2022 and identified priority areas of work for 2023. Those priorities would further embed social value to secure the best possible outcomes and returns for the people of Rotherham.

It was clarified that it was the third year of progress reporting on the social value policy. The purpose was to ensure the Council was spending more money in the local economy and to ensure that the Council was getting the maximum value from its suppliers and to ensure the Council was tackling poverty and encouraging use of the real living wage.

The Council was slowly starting to see the benefits increase over time and it did show that the overall spend with third party suppliers within the borough had nearly doubled over the past three years

It was explained that a correction within the report summary was needed to confirm that more that £13m had now been secured from Council contracts, rather than the £113m listed in the summary.

This report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board as part of the pre-decision scrutiny process. The Board fully supported the recommendations.

Resolved:

1.    That the annual report is received noting the increased social value commitments along with outcomes achieved.

2.    That Cabinet agreed the following key priorities for 2023 include:

a.    Continue to embed the foundations of strong social value delivery through contract manager and supplier learning and development, tools and evaluation.

b.    Support new and existing businesses to enter into new markets, from which the Council buys goods and services through the work of Rotherham Investment and Development Office and meet the buyer events.

c.     Hold a Social Value celebration event for suppliers to showcase impact and inspire others.

d.    Formally launch Rotherham Social Value Anchor Networks to raise awareness and engagement of more partners.