Stroud District Council has taken an extra step towards measuring the economic, social and environmental effects of the contracts it awards.
An online solution called the Social Value Portal is being implemented to measure and manage the contribution Stroud District Council, and its supply chain, is making to the whole district in terms of benefits to the community through its procurement activity. It means the council can measure and report on its social value activity and highlight the benefits of this activity to the community.
This means the positive impacts that council contracts have on for example cutting carbon emissions, growth of local businesses, increasing local jobs and supporting community projects can be measured better.
By using the Social Value Portal, it will provide the council with an annual report, highlighting the total amount of social value the council has delivered, and its successes.
The Social Value Portal allows organisations to report both non-financial and financial data, and measures environmental, social and economic activities in terms that are meaningful to Stroud district residents and businesses.
To reflect the implementation of the Social Value Portal, an updated social value policy has been written. This also aligns with the council’s strategic objectives outlined in the new Council Plan, in particular the priority regarding Economy, Recovery and Regeneration.
“As a local council, we are acutely aware of the need to buy local wherever we can, and we are committed to that across our services,” said Council Leader Doina Cornell. “By using the Social Value Portal, we can measure better the effect that buying local has – economically, socially and environmentally.”
The revised social value policy was approved by Strategy and Resources Committee in November.
