Issue - meetings

To consider report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The purpose of this report is to present and publish Stockport Council’s annual Social Value Statement (2022-2023). The report also proposes areas of focus in relation to social value, for the forthcoming year.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and consider the report.

Officer contact: Laura Mercer on 0161 218 1799 or email: laura.mercer@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting and publishing Stockport Council’s annual Social Value Statement (2022-2023). The report also proposed areas of focus in relation to social value, for the forthcoming year.

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources (Councillor Jilly Julian) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Members expressed their passion for for putting the ‘Stockport pound’ to work in Stockport for its residents.

·         Members commented that the Social Value Portal clearly demonstrated that the Council was active in creating social value contracts across a wide range of areas. Members asked whether any data was available on social value activity in other authorities in order to benchmark Stockport’s work.

·         In response it was stated that the data capture was recent and that the progress within Stockport, along with other local authorities, was at an early stage. For that reason, comparisons were difficult to make. Nonetheless, Stockport was the authority which was piloting a lot of the social value work and that put the borough in a good position from a comparative perspective.

·         In relation to the planned decarbonisation of the supply chain, it was reported that the council was piloting a green credentials requirement. Small businesses would be supported by the council in terms of those requirements and its existing suppliers provided with communications related to its ambitions and direction of travel in terms of green credentials.

·         Members expressed interest in ‘Match My Project’ and requested a demonstration.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.