Social value policy - Find a freedom of information request

1. A copy or link to the Authority's social value policy, strategy, framework or similar document (or a link to it) if there is one. And latest annual report/annual statement, or update, if available.

2. Has the Authority applied the concept of social value more widely than the revised best value guidance? And if so, details about how.

3. The percentage of the Authority's tenders over the past 12 months where the Public Services (Social Value) Act has been applied where it could have been applied (that is to say, how much use does the Authority make of the Act).

4. Where social value is included in contracts, the average weighting that it is given in scoring across those contacts.

5. A copy or link to any evaluation or estimation of social value commitment made at both the contracting stage and at social value delivery stage, as a result of the Authority's application of the Social Value Act. 

6. What calculator(s) has the Authority adopted to calculate social value?

7. What proportion of council spend is used to draw down social value?

8. Where does responsibility for social value sits within the Authority, e.g. with the head of procurement or with a cabinet member? Which departments have staff whose role includes 'social value' outside the procurement department?

9. Has training taken place for staff? Are there toolkits and resources for staff on social value?

10. Please provide a list of all suppliers of council goods, services and works last financial year. Where possible, please include details including company registration number, postcode/location, sector. If you hold data on which suppliers are VCSEs or SMEs, please share this.

I can confirm that the information requested is held by Lincolnshire County Council. I have detailed below the information that is being released to you.

1. The Council's green strategy can be found at the following link:

Green Masterplan (https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/homepage/128/green-masterplan)

Lincolnshire County Council Lincolnshire County Council's annual statement can be found at this link:

https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/finances-budgets/statement-accounts.

The Council's Commissioning Framework closely aligned to the Council's Corporate Plan sets out how we commission, our aim, vision and the principles that guide our commissioning. Securing social value forms part of our commissioning aim.

2. Lincolnshire County Council apply social value where appropriate and in line with the Social Value Act, PPN 06/20, and PPN 05/21.

3. See above. The Council has not yet adopted a centralised way of recording the information requested."

4. Lincolnshire County Council apply social value weighting where appropriate and in line with the Social Value Act, PPN 06/20, and PPN05/21. No centralised record is kept.

5. The social value commitments made vary depending on the particular procurement.

6. Lincolnshire County Council apply social value where appropriate and in line with the Social Value Act, PPN 06/20, and PPN05/21. The Council does not adopt a calculator such as The National TOMs framework to measure the social value achieved.

7. There is no fixed amount of spend attributed as a proportion to draw down social value.

8. The responsibility for social value sits with the Assistant Director for Commercial working with the Council's procurement teams and its commissioners in discussion with the Council's Corporate Leadership Team and the Executive Councillors for Commissioning and Procurement

9. Training for social value has taken place for some officers. A more consistent approach to social value centred on the Council's Commissioning Framework is being developed across the Council and a toolkit will be generally available along with guidance and training where that would be helpful.

10. The information regarding all awarded contracts over £5,000 and all contracts awarded to consultants is publicly available at the following link: https://lincolnshire.ckan.io/dataset/contracts