Community groups to benefit from council contractor donations
Council bosses in Sunderland aim to get firms who win local authority contracts to donate goods and services to local communities.
The move, due to be rubber stamped next month, could provide a boost for voluntary and community groups in the city
Major contractors already offer 'social value measures' – pledges to create local apprentices and source goods and services locally when delivering work for the council.
Thispolicywillseecontractorsdonatinggoodsandservices
to a special neighbourhood fund.
Cabinetsecretary,CllrPaul Stewart said: "Council contracts are not just about price and quality. Social value contracts allows the council to set downwidersocialandenvironmental benefits when suppliers are chosen.
Thisisanexcitingopportunity, a real step forward and a verypositiveforceforourcommunities.
"Othercouncilsaroundthe country are looking at similar measures in their tendering and we are very much leading rather than following as we look to introduce this here in Sunderland.”
He added: "For larger contracts, such as major construction projects, it could be financial contributions that help towards a new building oritsrepairs,orperhapsanew mini-bus that a group needs.
"This is all very much part of how we as a council aim to help support and strengthen thevolunteersandgroupswho play such a key role in Sunderland."
The council agreed a Community Wealth Building Strategy in March last year.
Other city stakeholders such as housing firm Gentoo and the Clinical Care Commission Group, which oversees community NHS services, are now part of the Voluntary and
CommunitySectorAlliancefor Sunderland that helps coordinate this support.
The report to cabinet on January 11, outlines how financial contributions received will go into the Sunderland VCS Alliance fund and communities would be able to apply for money to help fund a community project.
There would also be ‘value of in-kind’ contributions of goods and or services.
The proposed funding distribution would also not only be grants for products but also for services, such as professional support in legal or accounting work or other volunteering support needs.