eGuide: Maximising Social Value for Local Authorities
This guide provides local authorities with practical strategies for embedding social value into every stage of their operations, from project inception through to evaluation and reporting.
This guide aims to provide local authorities with practical strategies and best practices for embedding social value into their everyday operations. It outlines how social value can be integrated from project inception through to evaluation, helping authorities maximise the positive impacts of their activities.
Social value refers to the wider social, economic, and environmental benefits that arise from public sector activities. It encompasses efforts to improve community well-being, enhance environmental sustainability, and promote social equity.
For local authorities, integrating social value into their operations ensures that public spending delivers essential services along with broader benefits that strengthen communities, promote equality, and enhance the quality of life. By focusing on social value, local authorities can address pressing social issues and contribute to long-term community resilience.
Frequently asked questions
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Local authorities in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are subject to the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, which requires them to consider how public services contracts can improve the economic, social, and environmental wellbeing of the relevant area. The Procurement Act 2023 strengthens this framework by placing social value at the heart of how contracts are awarded and monitored. Central government's PPN 002 provides practical guidance on how social value should be defined, weighted, and assessed in tender processes.
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