Decision details

1.

Title of Item/Report

Social Value Annual Report

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report that presented the Social Value Annual Report, detailing the progress achieved in advancing the Council’s Social Value Policy during 2025 and outlining planned developments for 2026/27.

Cabinet approved the Social Value Policy in March 2023, and the annual report at Annex 1 of the report provided an update on the social value delivered during 2025. It included case studies illustrating the range and impact of outcomes achieved, along with statistical information on the associated financial proxy value.

Since last year’s report, the Council’s approach to social value continued to develop, including:

•         The appointment of a dedicated Social Value Officer,

•         A refresh of the Themes Outcomes Measures (TOMs) that are used to measure social value and the associated financial proxy values,

•         Alignment of the refreshed TOMs to the Stockton on Tees Plan,

•         Updates to the Social Value Calculators and dashboards used during the procurement process,

•         Closer work with Catalyst to ensure the VCSE sector benefits from social value commitments,

•         Initial work to explore how social value commitments made in Section 106 Agreements and Development Agreements can be captured and reported, and

•         Networking with various community organisations/ VCSE organisations to understand how social value can help them

•         Working both regionally and sub-regionally to share good practice and approaches to social value.

Work planned for 2026/27 included:

•         Work with Catalyst to develop a unified Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Value Framework to ensure a consistent, strategic approach to allocating social value contributions and CSR-related financial donations from local businesses,

•         Continue to develop processes to monitor and capture social value commitments made through Section 106 Agreements and Development Agreements,

•         Identify other contract opportunities to include social value.

•         Use social value case studies in press releases to demonstrate how suppliers, providers and contractors contribute to the borough through their social value commitments.

The next steps would be as follows:-

- Continue the development of the Council’s approach to Social Value and Corporate Social Responsibility.

- Continue to monitor the financial proxy values of social value.

RESOLVED that:-

1. The Social Value Annual Report (Annex 1 of the report) be noted.

2. The work undertaken during 2025/26 and the planned work in 2026/27 be noted.

3.

Reasons for the Decision

To provide an update of the Council’s approach to Social Value.

4.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None

5.

Declared (Cabinet Member) Conflicts of Interest

None

6.

Details of any Dispensations

None

7.

Date and Time by which Call In must be executed

Not applicable – Report for noting only.