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Social Value

Public Services (Social Value) Act

The Public Services (Social Value) Act came into force on 31 January 2013. The Act applies to public services contracts and framework agreements relating to services to which the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 ('the Regulations') apply.

Under the Act, councils must consider how what is proposed to be procured might improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the relevant area and how, in conducting the process of procurement, the council may act with a view to securing that improvement ('Social Value').

Colchester Borough Council's approach to Social Value

The Act's requirements was debated at the July 2013 meeting of the Cabinet.

The Cabinet agreed that the key social value issues applicable to Colchester Borough Council are to consider appropriate and relevant measures to address the impact on the local economy and on the environment, and compliance with the Living Wage at the pre-procurement stage of future procurements over the EU threshold.

Our Procurement Strategy reflects the requirements of the Social Value Act. We will also use the Act to encourage the creation of jobs for apprentices.

We introduced the Living Wage for our staff in 2013. At our March 2015 meeting, the Cabinet agreed a requirement to pay the UK Living Wage as a minimum be included in new tenders for services provided by external contractors directly on behalf of us from 01 June 2015 onwards.

We became a Living Wage Employer in February 2016, accredited by the Living Wage Foundation.This means that as well as paying the Living Wage to all directly employed staff, a phased plan for third party contracted staff is in place as relevant contracts come up for renewal.

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Page last reviewed: 28 February 2025