The Socially Responsible Procurement Strategy 2022-27 sets out the key role that procurement will continue to play in enabling the Council to achieve its Stronger Fairer Greener vision, by maximising the social impact of its spend, accelerating the move to net zero and leading the way as a ‘Fair Work’ employer. 

The Council delivers a wide and diverse range of statutory and discretionary public services in the city, and last year spent £560m procuring a diverse range of goods, services and works from over 8,000 suppliers and contractors.

As well as ensuring this public spend delivers good value for money, there is increasing importance on procurement that supports key issues such as decarbonisation, fair work, delivering community benefits and providing support for local businesses and communities.

The new strategy sets out what the Council will do to continue to improve the way in which it manages its procurement activity to support delivery of these priorities and features key objectives including:

·       Contributing to the Council’s aim to be a Carbon Neutral City by 2030.

·       Making procurement spend more accessible to local small businesses and third sector

·       Improving Fair Work and Safeguarding practices adopted by suppliers.

·       Increasing community benefits and social value delivered by suppliers.

Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation & Performance, Cllr Chris Weaver said: “The new strategy sets out the Council’s ongoing commitment to its socially-responsible and fair work values and sets the standard for other organisations to follow in tackling issues such as climate change and the impact of the cost of living crisis on business and our communities.

“The key objectives are underpinned by priorities in our Stronger Fairer Greener vision, such as decarbonising our supply chains to support the One Planet Cardiff strategy, keeping Council spend local and making it more accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises, and using our purchasing power to drive up workers’ rights and improve environmental standards.

“Procurement will continue to play a central role in enabling the Council to create opportunities for social and environmental improvements in the city.”

A detailed delivery plan will set out the actions that the Council will take to deliver the strategy which will be updated and reviewed for progress annually.

To read the strategy, visit: https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/Business/Tenders-commissioning-and-procurement/Policies-procedures-and-guidance/Documents/Social%20Resp%20Procurement%20Strategy%202022.pdf