Decision details

To approve proposals for identifying relevant social values to be sought from future procurements and respond to the council motion regarding the use of contractors by the Council.

 Matter for Decision: The purpose of the report was to advise on the imminent change in legislation affecting procurement by the City Council, to recommend for approval the Council’s approach to fulfilling the new duty placed upon it by the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 and to respond to the Notice of Motion (11/48b/CNLb) to Council on 21 July 2011 concerning the employment of contractors. 

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor:

 

The Executive Councillor resolved to:

 

        i.            Approve the process set out in the officer’s report to satisfy the duty placed on the Council by the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012.

      ii.            For services procurements to which the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 apply ie services procurement above the EU threshold, to instruct officers to:

-         Identify ways in which the procurement might improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of Cambridge, when seeking authority to go out to tender;

-         Conduct procurement processes with a view to securing the identified improvements;

-         Take account of the Council’s Vision Statement, Environmental Objectives and Strategic Objectives identified in Portfolio Plans in considering how the “Social Value” duty is discharged.

-         Report further to the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee on measures to ensure that future council contracts pay at least the ‘living wage’.

    iii.            Instruct officers to consider the issues referred to in the Notice of Motion (11/48b/CNLb) in the light of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 and to recommend appropriate provisions in the new Procurement Strategy which will be reported to the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee in October 2012

 

Reasons for the Decision: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The committee received a report from the Strategic Procurement Advisor.

 

Councillor Herbert highlighted the importance of council contracts paying the ‘living wage’. Councillor Herbert proposed and Councillor Benstead seconded the following additional recommendation:

 

“For services procurements to which the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 apply ie services procurement above the EU threshold, to instruct officers to:

 

-         Report further to the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee on measures to ensure that future council contracts pay at least the ‘living wage’.”

 

The Scrutiny Committee considered and approved the additional recommendation by 8 votes to 0 (unanimous).

 

The Scrutiny Committee considered and approved the amended recommendations by 8 votes to 0 (unanimous).

 

The Executive Councillor approved the amended recommendations.