The Redbridge Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on 12 June 2025 to discuss social value in Redbridge, receive updates from the chairs of the Policy Development Committees, and conduct pre-decision scrutiny of executive reports concerning budget control, sustainable transport, and authority monitoring. The committee also elected a chair and vice-chair for the 2025/26 municipal year.

Election of Chair and Vice Chair

The committee elected a chair and vice-chair for the 2025/26 municipal year. The names of the councillors elected to these positions were not included in the provided documents.

Social Value in Redbridge

The committee received a presentation on social value in Redbridge, which they were asked to comment on and note.

The presentation covered:

• The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2013, which requires commissioners to consider wider social, economic, and environmental benefits when commissioning services.
• How social value is a key lever for achieving economic benefit, linking to the Redbridge Employment, Skills and Enterprise Plan.
• That Redbridge Council's annual contracted spend is approximately £230 million.
• The council's procurement policy mandates a 10% weighting for social value in relevant tenders.
• A new corporate approach to maximising social value was introduced in September 2023, featuring 16 agreed Redbridge Themes and Output Measures (TOMs) with proxy financial values.
• The council uses the nationally recognised Social Value Portal to evaluate and monitor social value in all contracts over the UK threshold (£172,000 for goods and services and £4.25 million for works).

The Redbridge Themes and Output Measures (TOMs) are:

• Jobs: Eight measures, including ringfenced jobs and apprenticeships for local people, access to skills training, and careers advice support.
• Growth: Supporting Growth of Local Business: Two measures focused on local supply chain spend and expert business advice to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
• Social: Healthier, Safer, and more Resilient Communities: Three measures focused on financial contributions to local community projects, volunteering time, and initiatives to reduce crime.
• Environment: Decarbonising and Safeguarding our World: Two measures focused on savings in CO2 emissions and achievement of net zero.
• Innovation: Promoting Social Innovation: One measure focused on innovative ways to achieve community benefit.

Achievements since September 2023 include:

• Ten contracts being monitored through the Social Value Portal.
• Stronger relationship building between contract managers and the Economic Development Team.
• £5,596,759 committed and £361,222 delivered from a contract value of £8,833,528.
• Opportunities to benefit from smaller-scale outcomes, such as cashable contributions or donations in kind, through contracts not using the Social Value Portal.

The presentation noted that ongoing work is needed to validate delivered benefits and that there are ongoing challenges with the roll over of contracts and best use of frameworks.

The council's focus for 2025 includes:

• A corporate sponsor championing the importance of maximising social value.
• Identified and resourced Social Value leads.
• A robust Social Value Policy developed and published.
• An annual impact report published, highlighting corporate indicators to increase visibility.
• Corporate decision-making for the allocation of available community benefit.
• Further education and training for commissioners and contract managers on the process, policy, and importance of maximising social value.
• Addressing the organisational challenge of rolling over contracts, which limits Social Value opportunities.

The presentation included several examples of social value in action in Redbridge, including donations to the Mayor's Charity Appeal, participation in a Green Skills Career Day, support for local construction SMEs through the Pitch To Win It session, and support for residents experiencing domestic abuse through the Safe At Home programme. The presentation also highlighted Mulalley's¹ contributions to social value in Redbridge, including employment and training opportunities for local residents, support for youth and schools, and donations to local charities and community projects.

Consideration of Executive Reports

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee has a role in leading on pre-decision scrutiny of items of business being considered by the Cabinet and to submit comments to the Cabinet as part of the decision-making process. The following reports, due for consideration by the Cabinet on 19 June 2025, were selected for pre-decision scrutiny:

Budget Control Outturn Report

The committee considered the Budget Control Outturn Report, but the details of the discussion were not included in the provided documents.

Redbridge Sustainable Transport Strategy Formal Adoption

The committee considered the Redbridge Sustainable Transport Strategy Formal Adoption, but the details of the discussion were not included in the provided documents.

Authority Monitoring Report (AMR)

The committee considered the Authority Monitoring Report (AMR), but the details of the discussion were not included in the provided documents.

Updates from Chairs of the Policy Development Committees

The committee received verbal updates from the Chairs of the Policy Development Committees (PDC). The details of these updates were not included in the provided documents.