Progressive procurement and clear articulation of social value
Brighton and Hove Council spend £270m on procuring goods and services, working with 1,000s of suppliers, ranging from a simple quotation process, to complex tenders. The Council have taken a more voracious approach to the social value agenda than many, and have utilised the vagaries of the Social Value Act tomaximise the social and economic benefits of their spending for local residents. In practical terms, the Council applies a flexible social value weighting of between 10% and 30%and provide guidance for procurers and commissioners to support them to do this in a joined-up manner. There is a clear articulation of what social value means, with nine social value principles outlined.
Amplifying the power of local businesses to create economic and social value
CLES is working with the Council toharness the power of strong business citizenship already prevalent in Brighton and Hove.For instance, a major movement in Brighton has been around paying the Real Living Wage. The City Council is one of the organisations that are signed up and accredited as a Real Living Wage employer. Across Brighton there are a total of 576 organisations who have signed up. This is a significant body of employers within the city, demonstrating admirable business citizenship and will bring real benefits to Brighton’s residents.
Community-led housing
The Council is supporting the local community-led housing movement, with a commitment to allocate sites for locally led housing development. Brighton has an active community of 15 active community-led housing groups, with Brighton Community Land Trust (BCLT) operating as an umbrella organisation. BCLT has secured funding from the Community Housing Fund to develop capacity locally and is funding a post to search for private property and land that may be suitable for housing development, a post that has alerted the Council to property coming onto the market that it is now seeking to buy. Further collaboration between BCLT and Brighton and Hove Council will discover innovative ways to solve local housing challenges.
Brighton and Hove Council is working with CLES to embed community wealth building across the organisation as one of three corporate objectives.
Context
Brighton and Hove isa relatively small city, but its economic footprint in Greater Brighton is significant.It is home to an enterprising economy and highly qualified workforce, with 218 digital business start-ups in 2018 alone and more than 400,000 jobs in 40,000 businesses in the Greater Brighton area.
There is a strong social and solidarity economy, made up of co–operatives, community housing groups, charities and third sector organisations.
However, affordable housing is a significant problem with a high percentage of people living in the private rented sector and high and rising rents contributing to insecure housing, homelessness and rising food bank usage.
In response to these issues the newly elected Council has committed to putting community wealth building at the heart of the its business operations, using its spending power and land and property to build a more equitable local economy.
What is Dérive? Founded in 2017, Dérive is Salford City Council’s wholly owned housing company, created to accelerate the delivery of genuinely affordable, well‑designed and low‑carbon homes. Its subsidiary Dérive RP achieved Registered Provider status in 2023, unlocking access to Homes England funding. Community wealth building in practice Municipal ownership: Dérive keeps control of land, tenure and affordability within the city, ensuring long‑term community benefit. Local financial power: RP status enables grant funding for social rent, while mixed‑tenure schemes help cross‑subsidise deeper affordability. Progressive procurement: Delivery partners such as Seddon…
Context Fife is Scotland’s third largest local authority area by population. It has a resident population of just under 367,000, over a third of whom live in the three principal settlements, Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes. Money administered to SMEs by local councils during and after the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in an increased awareness of the capacity local SMEs might have to diversify their activities. In Fife Council economic development officers are engaging with local SMEs to make them aware of their goods and services pipeline, with a view to more…
Context Employee-owned businesses, co-operatives, social enterprises and community ownership models enable the wealth generated in places to be more equitably shared by the workers and communities who create it. The sector currently faces a challenge of fragmented and inaccessible support that can confuse and deter potential business leaders. The Greater Manchester Independent Inequalities Commission recommended the creation of a community wealth hub to support and grow co-operatives, mutuals, social and community enterprises in the region. Supporting the inclusive economy Working with Co-operatives UK, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority has established Our Business. This…
Stay in Touch
Talk to us
Want to make your local economy fairer and stronger? Talk to us – we’re here to help you make change happen.
For press enquiries please reach out to us on rosielockwood@cles.org.uk, or by calling 07802 453340
