A new approach to ensuring that the money the council spends delivers greater social and economic benefits for local people has been agreed.
While many areas continue to improve, further action is needed to tackle persistent inequalities and support stronger, fairer communities.
The new framework sets out a clear and consistent way to embed social value in everything the council does, from procurement and commissioning to partnership work and service delivery.
Social value will be considered in all contracts worth £50,000 or more, with a minimum 10% weighting within the quality evaluation. This represents significant progress on current arrangements and will help ensure investment is more closely aligned with local needs.
An annual Social Value Insights Report will also be published, giving residents and elected members a clear picture of the difference being made through both data and real-life case studies.
Lynsey Smith, Brighter Futures Manager, said: “The new framework will strengthen our ability when it comes to creating local jobs, supporting skills and apprenticeships, building community resilience, promoting fair work and supporting a more sustainable local economy.”
The strategy has been developed by the council’s Brighter Futures programme and led by the NL Academies team, it has been shaped by extensive engagement across council services and with external partners.
The Social Value Framework report was presented to members of the policy and strategy committee on Thursday 19 March 2026.