Agenda item

Report of the Strategic Director Corporate Services and Governance

The Committee received a report to provide a summary update on action taken to implement the recommendations of the review on the Community Wealth Building.

In 2022 the Corporate Resources and Overview Committee agreed the scope for the Community Wealth Building review was focused on;

·         Making community wealth building central to Gateshead strategic direction through its strategy.

·         E-learning modules to be developed on community wealth building which are available via the intranet for all staff across the Council.

·         Review spend analysis of the top 100 suppliers to identify where contracts could be delivered locally, addressing gaps in the local supply chain and those opportunities offered to local suppliers.

·         Explore the development of social enterprises through the work of Economic Development.

·         Improve SME’s access to contract opportunities through improving our internet pages and having a greater presence on social media.

·         Supporting the development of a more inclusive economy by working with other organisations to embed community wealth building through the Community Practice meetings and discussions at Anchor institute meetings.

After a number of evidence gathering sessions the final report on 17^th April 2023 identified 10 recommendations, those being;

·         Recommendation 1 – continue to drive community wealth building through commissioning and procurement, recruitment, and economic development activity.

·         Recommendation 2 – procurement documentation and communications should be reviewed to ensure that there are no barriers for local SME’s (where this is possible).

·         Recommendation 3 – undertake further investigation as to why local organisations do not engage with tender processes.

·         Recommendation 3(a) – further networking activity for local suppliers and CVS’s should be explored by Economic Development.

·         Recommendation 4 – ensure that all officers engaged in commissioning and procurement activity across the Council undertake the e-learning community wealth building module.

·         Recommendation 5 – continue with the engagement with anchor organisations to explore joint working on the following:

o   Commissioning and procurement activity

o   Recruitment drives and skills development

o   Reviewing of land and property assets held by anchor organisations in Gateshead to see if they could be re-purposed

o   Develop a carbon reduction/energy transition approach with anchor organisations

o   To undertake workforce analysis, identification of gaps with parts/cohorts of citizens more distant from the labour market –

·         Recommendation 6 – further develop the social value work through the newly appointed Social Value co-ordinator role and by working with the VCSE sector, schools, voluntary groups, and internal colleagues to maximise social value benefits through future procurement opportunities. Look to develop ‘Our Gateshead’ web page to include social value ‘asks’, this would allow VCSE’s, schools and voluntary groups, to submit social value requests and tenderers to see what those requests are and commit to deliver them during their contract period.

·         Recommendation 7 – Continue to develop and grow the generative economy working with local organisation to ensure they are fit to compete to maximise their success in future tender and quotation opportunities through pre- procurement market engagement sessions and by encouraging suppliers to attend the NEPO Business Club events.

·         Recommendation 8 – support the development of the social economy and alternative business models, including cooperatives and community interest companies that have the potential to provide goods and services that meet community need and address gaps in Council and anchor organisation supply chains.

·         Recommendation 9 – consider developing a social value framework for all planning and development to maximise future planning activity to maximise social and community benefits including residents access to employment opportunities arising from major regeneration projects through the Gateshead Works Service.

·         Recommendation 10 – Continue to explore opportunities for collaborating with the Anchor Alliance set up by the North of Tyne Combined Authority to enable us to build on the Anchor organisations we work with.

In the next six months the following actions are planned:

·         Recommendation 2 – the review of procurement documentation will be completed, and new documentation implemented in accordance with the Procurement Act.

·         Recommendation 4 – officers involved in commissioning and procurement activity will have to complete the Community Wealth Building Training when they participate in a procurement process. The draft Community Wealth Building Policy will also be shared.

·         Recommendation 5 – the Anchors will continue to meet and explore opportunities for further joint working to retain maximum wealth in Gateshead.

·         Recommendation 8 – the Council will continue support the development of the social economy and alternative business models including intensive work with the 2 groups that are interested in progressing the Community Asset Transfers of the leisure centres that were closed by the Council.

·         Recommendation 9 – the Council will continue to support Gateshead to Thrive through the development of Social Value within the Borough, through promoting Gateshead Exchange and the use of Social Value Toolkit in procurements.

The Committee were introduced and given a demo to the Gateshead Exchange website. This is a service designed to bring suppliers, schools, colleges, community groups and voluntary, community and social enterprises together.

On the website there are options to request or offer support in varies ways i.e., materials, volunteers, or a specific service. When a request is submitted procurement will review and match with the appropriate partner. The website is regularly reviewed to ensure the requests are still warranted.

RESOLVED:

(i)            The Committee are satisfied with the progress to date.

(ii)          The Committee are satisfied with the impacts to date.