Council aims to add social value to support work
CHESHIRE East Council has recen t ly announced its intentions to launch a new ‘ social value’ policy, which aims to address inequalities while supporting local businesses and workers.
The policy will apply to the commissioning of goods and services, as well as the council’s own ambition to achieve fairness across the borough.
All suppliers and council service providers are expected to meet the core values set out by the council, ranging from climate change to health inequalities.
Council leader, Councillor Sam Corcoran, said: “Through social value, we aim to support sustainable and inclusive economic development in our borough.
“This is a call to action to support local economic recovery following the impact of COVID-19. Through a social value policy within the council’s supply chain, we want to build links between the public, business, voluntary, faith and social enterprise sectors in Cheshire East.”
Social value is recognised both nationally and locally as a beneficial tool for driving innovation, tackling health inequalities and securing improvements in social, economic and environmental outcomes for communities.
Councillor Sam Corcoran said: “We want to tackle health inequalities, improve mental wellbeing and address other social inequalities, which can be done through good quality employment opportunities, community development, housing, transport and environmental planning.
“Our policy has been developed with the NHS Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and supports our ambitions for integrated commissioning. There are joined-up priorities and objectives, such as economic recovery, climate change and carbon neutral ambitions.”
The council’s cabinet has now approved the policy and all future procurement of goods. Suppliers would be expected to play their part by employing local people, building local skills and local training opportunities, using local supply chains themselves and or investing in local projects.
In turn, the council will also ensure its own corporate social responsibility and ethical practices are up to date and meet expectations in terms of employment, the environment and other obligations within a social values charter and framework.
In addition to the council’s carbon-neutral commitment and reduced use of plastics, its 3,500 employees get two-days paid leave to carry out volunteering work in the community.
The development and application of a social value policy will contribute to the objectives within the council’s corporate plan, its five-year partnership plan, its joint health and wellbeing strategies and other economic and social recovery ambitions for the whole borough.