u003cspan class=u0022TextRun SCXW256056545 BCX4u0022 lang=u0022EN-GBu0022 xml_lang=u0022EN-GBu0022 data-contrast=u0022autou0022u003eu003cspan class=u0022NormalTextRun SCXW256056545 BCX4u0022u003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.preston.gov.uku0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003ePreston City Councilu003c/au003e will du003c/spanu003eu003cspan class=u0022NormalTextRun SCXW256056545 BCX4u0022u003eemand u003c/spanu003eu003cspan class=u0022NormalTextRun SCXW256056545 BCX4u0022u003emajor contracts include a u003c/spanu003eu003cspan class=u0022NormalTextRun SCXW256056545 BCX4u0022u003e20% social value commitment u003c/spanu003eu003c/spanu003eu003cspan class=u0022EOP SCXW256056545 BCX4u0022 data-ccp-props=u0022{u0026quot;201341983u0026quot;:0,u0026quot;335559739u0026quot;:160,u0026quot;335559740u0026quot;:259}u0022u003e u003c/spanu003e
Preston City Council hopes to increase the value it delivers for local communities through its new Social Value Procurement Framework (SVPF).
The launch of the framework is part of the council’s commitment to delivering Community Wealth Building in Preston – a people-centred approach to local economic development.
The Social Value (2012) Act requires social value to be considered in all public sector service procurement exercises over an agreed threshold. Public authorities must have “regard to economic, social and environmental wellbeing”.
Preston’s new framework aims to improve the council’s existing approach to the consideration of social value in procurement.
When suppliers bid for contracts, they will be asked to demonstrate how they will contribute to supporting the local economy and fair employment, addressing the climate emergency, investing in training, and supporting the voluntary and community sector.
Community commitment
Councillor Valerie Wise, cabinet member for Community Wealth Building, said: “A Community Benefit Framework is already in place for the council’s £45 million Animate entertainment and leisure development and a similar framework has been adopted for the Town’s Fund projects.
“We have agreed that a framework should now be adopted for all council procurement activity and that the weighting of social value in the assessment of tenders should be increased to 20%.
“This is in line with the council’s commitment to Community Wealth Building, and best practice across the UK.”
The SVPF will be used in any procurement exercise which is expected to exceed the contract value threshold of £74,999.
The council will expect 20% of the overall assessment score to be allocated to social value. This will be split evenly between an assessment of a supplier’s description of their current commitment to social value, and an assessment of the additional benefits the supplier commits to through the delivery of measures selected from the SVPF.
These measures are grouped under five themes:
- Supporting the local economy
- Addressing the climate emergency
- Promoting fair employment
- Investing in the future workforce
- Strengthening the voluntary and community sector
On award of contract, the supplier will commit to regular reporting on the selected SVPF measures. This will form part of the council’s standard contract monitoring procedure.
