North Lincolnshire Council‘s leader has said companies should not bother applying for council contracts if they do not want to provide ‘social value’.
Social value goes beyond the pure monetary value of something to reflect positive impact on people and communities, through the likes of employment and training opportunities, outreach events, and support for community organisations. Cllr Rob Waltham made the remark in December’s Cabinet meeting discussion of the social value of two major council-contracted schemes.
Project Anchor is the council’s name for the Elizabeth Row development in Scunthorpe, involving accommodation for NHS staff, an enterprise and innovation hub and a new police station – the latter still subject to a planning decision. This and the M181 southern junction work projects were discussed at cabinet in terms of their social value. Together, they have resulted in significant employment and training benefits locally.
“If people want to supply contracts to the council, we want to make sure they are supporting our community and enriching the area,” said Cllr Waltham. “If they don’t want to do that, then frankly we don’t want them to apply for our contracts.”
Project Anchor
A council report states this scheme has employed 22 people who would otherwise be unemployed, ten from within a 30-mile radius. Two North Lindsey College T-Level students have completed 315 hours on Project Anchor to support their two-year design, surveying and planning course. There are also two higher level apprentices working on the site, pursuing degree apprenticeships in quantity surveying.
The construction of the development has also supported 16 work experience placements, all at least five days each. Other social value elements of Project Anchor highlighted include:
- Donation of recycled materials to the local hedgehog hospital
- Contractor Galliford Try’s organisation of a comprehensive café design competition, involving 120 hours of dedicated work from the Engineering UTC Northern Lincolnshire students
- 28 workshops with schools and colleges against a target of 10, and especially extensive engagement with Scunthorpe’s C of E primary school – Years 3 and 4 students have visited every month the site
Appleby Frodingham Cricket Club also successfully applied for £12,500 YOR4Good funding to add disabled ramp access to its clubhouse and a communal deck. YOR4Good was set up in 2013 and supports projects in Yorkshire and Humber through donations from registered building companies. Galliford Try provided materials and labour to the cricket club’s refurbishment.
M181 Southern Junction
Work on the M181 southern junction started this summer by Esh Construction. It has resulted in three local armed forces veterans being hired who would otherwise be unemployed, one local individual who was not in employment, education or training (NEET) employed, and 17 operatives employed from North Lincolnshire.
Future expected social value includes 20 work experience days for four North Lindsey College students, five each, and there is a YOR4GOOD bid for the equivalent of £25,000 for Lindsey Lodge.
(Image: North Lincolnshire Council)
‘We should thank staff for going the extra mile’
Though social value is meant to go beyond pure monetary benefits of a project, it has been estimated economically for both projects. So far, Project Anchor is estimated to have provided £1.7m local social value, and the M181 southern junction £2m.
Opposition Labour group leader Cllr Len Foster welcomed the two social value reports and paid special tribute to council officers for their work achieving the outcomes. “It’s nice to see these kind of reports come in.
“We ought to recognise as an authority the work that goes on from our officers to achieve these social aspects of these contracts. It’s not easy,” he said, adding “we should thank our staff for going the extra mile.”
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Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe
