To be moved by Councillor Adam Hug and seconded by Councillor David Boothroyd:
“The council notes the steps forward made in recent years encouraging contractors and suppliers to provide a wider benefit to society in Westminster including the Council’s current Responsible Procurement Delivery Plan.
It also notes the innovation being led by local councils across the country and that the government has introduced the Social Value Act 2016 and Civil Society Strategy recognising the importance of ethical and community focused procurement.
The council believes that there is greater scope to align the council’s approach to procurement and contracting with its policy objectives, currently City for All, and the needs of local people
It also believes that the council and other public sector partners can help act as the catalyst for local wealth building, particularly in the most deprived parts of our city, including increasing the amount of contracts delivered with local SMEs, social enterprises and the voluntary sector.
The council resolvesto ask Cabinet/the relevant Cabinet Member to raise the weighting given to social value in procurement from 5% to 20% in line with the most innovative local authorities in the sector.
It resolves toask Cabinet/the relevant Cabinet Member to do more through Westminster Council’s procurement and contracting to address issues such as providing local employment, investment by Westminster communities and SMEs, improving the accountability of the supply chain and tackling the challenges of air quality, waste and climate change
It also resolvesto ask Cabinet/the relevant Cabinet Member to expand and enhance the current Responsible Procurement Delivery Plan into a Social Value Toolkit to guide commissioners across the council and can also be used by others in the local public sector.
The council further resolves to ask Cabinet/the relevant Cabinet Member to develop a phased action plan for implementing the London Living Wage for staff working for Council contractors, such as that passed by Kensington and Chelsea Council and to apply for Living Wage Employer accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation.
Minutes:
11.1 The Minority Party had selected for debate the notice of motion as set out on the agenda. The notice of motion was moved by Councillor Adam Hug and seconded by Councillor David Boothroyd.
11.2 The Majority Party had submitted an amendment to the notice of motion as set out on the order paper.
11.3 Councillor Rachael Robathan moved and it was seconded by Councillor Robert Rigby that the notice of motion be amended, as follows:
Amended Motion
1. The council notes the steps forward made in recent years encouraging contractors and suppliers to provide a wider benefit to society in Westminster including the Council’s current Responsible Procurement Delivery Plan.
2. It also notes the innovation being led by local councils across the country and that the government has introduced the Social Value Act 2016 and Civil Society Strategy recognising the importance of ethical and community focused procurement.
3.
The council believes that there is greater scope
to align the council’s approach to procurement and
contracting with its policy objectives, currently City for All, and
the needs of local people
3. The Council notes and supports the continuing work to align even further the Council’s approach to procurement and contracting with its policy of a City for All and the needs of local people.
4. It also believes that the Council and other public sector partners can help act as the catalyst for local wealth building, particularly in the most deprived parts of our city, including increasing the amount of contracts delivered with local SMEs, social enterprises and the voluntary sector.
5.
The council resolves to ask Cabinet/the relevant
Cabinet Member to raise the weighting given to social value in
procurement from 5% to 20% in line with the
most innovative local authorities in the
sector.
5. The council notes and supports the policy of giving a weighting of a minimum of 5% of the quality score to social value in all service procurements and up to 20% as appropriate.
6. It resolves to ask Cabinet/the relevant Cabinet Member to do more through Westminster Council’s procurement and contracting to address issues such as providing local employment, investment by Westminster communities and SMEs, improving the accountability of the supply chain and tackling the challenges of air quality, waste and climate change
7.
It also resolves to ask Cabinet/the relevant
Cabinet Member to expand and enhance the current Responsible
Procurement Delivery Plan into a Social Value Toolkit to guide
commissioners across the council and can
also be used by others in the local public
sector.
7. The Council recognises and supports the work being done to raise awareness of social value across the organisation and in the supply chain and notes that further guidance will be issued later in the year.
8.
The council further resolves to ask Cabinet/the
relevant Cabinet Member to develop a phased action plan for
implementing the London Living Wage for staff working for Council
contractors, such as that passed by Kensington and Chelsea Council
and to apply for Living Wage Employer accreditation from the Living
Wage Foundation.
8. The Council notes the clear commitment to promoting fairness and equality of pay for both staff of the Council and those working for council contractors. It further notes that the Cabinet, while fully recognising the legal restrictions surrounding this, will be discussing formalising this position by applying for London Living Wage Employer accreditation at its meeting on 15th July.
11.4 Following debate, Councillor Hug agreed to accept the amendment to the motion.
11.5 The Lord Mayor put the substantive motion to the vote and on a show of hands declared the substantive motion CARRIED.
RESOLVED:
1. The council notes the steps forward made in recent years encouraging contractors and suppliers to provide a wider benefit to society in Westminster including the Council’s current Responsible Procurement Delivery Plan.
2. It also notes the innovation being led by local councils across the country and that the government has introduced the Social Value Act 2016 and Civil Society Strategy recognising the importance of ethical and community focused procurement.
3. The Council notes and supports the continuing work to align even further the Council’s approach to procurement and contracting with its policy of a City for All and the needs of local people.
4. It also believes that the Council and other public sector partners can help act as the catalyst for local wealth building, particularly in the most deprived parts of our city, including increasing the amount of contracts delivered with local SMEs, social enterprises and the voluntary sector.
5. The council notes and supports the policy of giving a weighting of a minimum of 5% of the quality score to social value in all service procurements and up to 20% as appropriate.
6. It resolves to ask Cabinet/the relevant Cabinet Member to do more through Westminster Council’s procurement and contracting to address issues such as providing local employment, investment by Westminster communities and SMEs, improving the accountability of the supply chain and tackling the challenges of air quality, waste and climate change
7. The Council recognises and supports the work being done to raise awareness of social value across the organisation and in the supply chain and notes that further guidance will be issued later in the year.
8. The Council notes the clear commitment to promoting fairness and equality of pay for both staff of the Council and those working for council contractors. It further notes that the Cabinet, while fully recognising the legal restrictions surrounding this, will be discussing formalising this position by applying for London Living Wage Employer accreditation at its meeting on 15th July.