Our social value policy

The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2013 requires us to consider the opportunities to secure wider social, economic and environmental benefits within the services we commission, in order to maximise the value of public money spent and benefit the community as a whole.

This approach helps us to get the most benefit from our contracts as we look to our suppliers as experts in their fields to tell us what more they can provide, when delivering services on our behalf, that will make real differences to the residents of North Somerset.

We have adopted the TOMs approach (Themes, Outcomes and Measures) and are working with Social Value Portal to manage social value within tendering exercises and through contract management. This provides both a structured approach for suppliers wishing to offer social value and clarity to the council around specific and measurable commitments received.

To create our social value policy, we consulted with and incorporated advice and guidance from the Federation of Small Businesses. It provides clarity and guidance to suppliers and staff about how we intend to realise strong social value outcomes through our contracts.