Social values charters Putting the value into a social charter The days when a service was procured purely on the basis of cost are long gone. When local authorities or private companies seek to bring in a contractor or service provider, there are a host of other factors to be taken into consideration, as Sarah Juggins discovers P rofit lines and cost cutting will always be key considerations when businesses and local authorities are buying in services or goods. But now because of a changing mindset and legislation a new set of criteria drives the procurement process. If the choice comes down to two providers and one of them has social values that align well with those of the local authority, then the decision becomes simpler. The idea of social value charters came from the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. It requires anyone commissioning public services to think about how they can secure wider social, economic and environmental benefits. Put simply, the value of a public service is measured in far more than simply pounds and pence. Of course, social values are nothing new, as Deborah Cooper, group organisational development director at Marston Holdings, points out. A lot of companies were doing this long before it became legislation. Our civil enforcement officers (CEOs) are part of the local community and many have always been involved in A lot of companies were doing this long before it became legislation local activities. Staff volunteer to come in for Red Nose day and Sport Relief day, helping to take donations through our call centre. Regardless of the Social Value Act, Cooper says the past few years have seen a sea-change in society and it is no longer acceptable for a company to only be about making money. Whats more, involvement within the community or doing charity work is an important addition on the curriculum vitae of potential employees. 16 britishparking.co.uk PN Oct19 pp16-19 Lead Feature.indd 16 23/09/2019 13:49