Decision details

This policy document articulates a series of revisions to protocols, process and tools across Sheffield City Council and its supply chain, to enable the Council to ‘conduct business ethically, effectively and efficiently for the benefit of Sheffield’ .  In particular focusses on adopting three key tools, Social Value tests, Ethical Code of Conduct for suppliers and revised Tender processes.

That the Cabinet Member for Finance approves the implementation of the Ethical Procurement Policy in full.

Implementing an Ethical Procurement policy is the only effective way of the Council as an organisation being able to manage the Ethical requirements of Members in the supply chain and ensure that :

1.    Tax compliance;

2.    Ethical Procurement;

3.    Grave Misconduct;

4.    Living Wage; and

5.    Blacklisting;

6.    Local Economic Impact; and

7.    Social Value

are included in all procurement and contract management activity across the organisation. The proposals should enable the following outcomes;

Ethical

·      Drive the City Council’s view of ethical behaviour as a standard throughout the supply chain.

·      Enable greater return in social value in Sheffield.

Effective

·      Increase SCC spend in the local economy/market.

·      Increase our understanding of the supplier markets.

·      Stimulate business growth.

·      Bring in innovative ideas and thinking from the market.

·      Accommodate short to mid-term change/flexibility into contractual arrangements.

·      Drive an increase in cashable savings.

Efficient

·      Streamline processes.

·      Be (increasingly) cohesive in our messages/engagement with suppliers/market.

·      Have processes that drive the right outcome (rather than focus solely on compliance).

The Council may have chosen to do nothing, but this is not an acceptable position.