Charity and Voluntary Sector
HO: A new law which will open up more opportunities for social enterprises to deliver public services came into force last week. The Public Services (Social Value) Act requires local authorities & other commissioners of public services to consider how their services can benefit people living in the local community.
Under the new legislation, local authority procurers must now consider how they can improve the social impact of their public service contracts before they start the procurement process. The Act also requires commissioners to consider consulting on the services to be procured.
The new legislation comes as part of a major government drive to make it easier for Social Enterprises to deliver public services. The government has also launched its new Commissioning Academy which will bring together commissioners from across the public sector to transform how public services are delivered.
