The Public Services (Social Value) Act that comes into effect in January 2013 will require public bodies to consider how the services they commission will impact on the wider community, measuring value for money not just financially, but also socially, economically and environmentally. The Social Enterprise UK guide is aimed at commissioners and procurement officials, providing an overview of the Act and practical guidance on how social value can be embedded into the commissioning and procurement process.
The new guide was launched at Social Enterprise UK’s Social Value Conference on the 20th November, with lawyers Mark Cook and Gayle Monk from Anthony Collins Solicitors delivering a seminar on how best to utilise the guide.
Mark Cook said: “It is essential that public sector commissioners and procurement officials know exactly how to put this policy change into practice. Recent research demonstrates that there is a strong appetite amongst public bodies for delivering increased social value, although a very high percentage of authorities feel that they lack the experience required to develop this approach further.
“With the right knowledge and support, commissioners can learn how to embed a culture of social value into their procurement processes, feeling confident that they know what to do and when, and ensuring that the social value approach is bespoke to each and every contract. One great benefit of the Social Value Act is that it helps authorities align their activities with local needs, shaping their services in a way that is likely to have the biggest impact on the surrounding community.”
The use of large up-front fees and disproportionate deposits has already resulted in significant cost consequences for one care provider.
The government announced on 16 May that it will provide a fund of £400m to cover the costs of removal and replacement of cladding to high rise residential blocks which have failed tests.
Whilst some people are under the impression that preparing a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is simply a case of completing a form and ticking a few boxes, it is about far more than this.
A big fear for some people facing divorce and the inevitable carving up of the matrimonial assets. They seek assurances that such assets will be “ring-fenced” and retained for them.
Thinking about the legal status of being a cohabitant probably isn’t at the top of the ‘to do’ list.
When an individual is thinking about making a gift to another individual, consideration needs to be given to the Potentially Exempt Transfer (PET) trap.
We are now only a few weeks away from the biggest change to data protection laws in over 20 years. Are you compliant?
The tragedy, in this case, is that there were options readily available to the midwives that they could have used. This was not a case of having to go above and beyond.
Arising from the recent Family Division announcement, people who think they are legally divorced may in fact still be married.
The SCCS has issued providers in the scheme a series of updated and new documents in order to assist with their National Minimum Wage review.
To receive invitations to our events, as well as information and articles on legal issues and sector developments that are of interest to you, please sign up to Newsroom.