Proposed by Councillor Howlett, seconded by Councillor Turner

Labour member motion

Council notes:

·         That Oxford City Council was the first UK local authority to pay a Living Wage, pays the Oxford Living Wage, spends around 50% with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), spends over 70% with local suppliers, and operates a higher level of support for the local voluntary sector than that of many other districts.  It has agreed to include a social value element in non-OJEU procurement activity and apply the Green Public Procurement Policy, and it has appointed a Co-operatives Champion.

·         That the Community Wealth Building (CWB) model has had success in Preston in uniting the city’s key employers and procurers (known as ‘anchor institutions’) to reorganise their supply chains and identify where they could buy goods and services locally, showing what can be achieved by effective local leadership.

·         While Oxford’s economy is relatively buoyant, high levels of inequality and concentrations of poverty make a focus on adding social value crucial for our city.

Council believes:

·         That there is potential for our City Council to work alongside  other ‘anchor institutions’ in Oxford in using our spending powers to forge a local economy that shares wealth and power more equally and puts environmental sustainability at its heart, and this work is making good progress under the Inclusive Employer Task Group strand of the Oxford Strategic Partnership.

·         There are clear benefits to co-operation and substantial growth in the sector provides a true alternative to business as usual.

Council resolves to:

·         Explore with leading Oxford employers how they can together target our significant procurement spend to achieve social and environmental goals, and monitor its impact.

·         Work to ensure that public spend in Oxford maximises the achievement of social value, including in the activity of City Council-owned companies.

·         Request an update report from the relevant officer to Cabinet and Council within six months of this meeting.

Councillor Howlett, seconded by Councillor Turner, proposed the submitted motion as set out in the agenda and briefing note.

After debate and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

Council resolved to adopt the following motion:

Council notes:

·         That Oxford City Council was the first UK local authority to pay a Living Wage, pays the Oxford Living Wage, spends around 50% with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), spends over 70% with local suppliers, and operates a higher level of support for the local voluntary sector than that of many other districts.  It has agreed to include a social value element in non-OJEU procurement activity and apply the Green Public Procurement Policy, and it has appointed a Co-operatives Champion.

·         That the Community Wealth Building (CWB) model has had success in Preston in uniting the city’s key employers and procurers (known as ‘anchor institutions’) to reorganise their supply chains and identify where they could buy goods and services locally, showing what can be achieved by effective local leadership.

·         While Oxford’s economy is relatively buoyant, high levels of inequality and concentrations of poverty make a focus on adding social value crucial for our city.

Council believes:

·         That there is potential for our City Council to work alongside  other ‘anchor institutions’ in Oxford in using our spending powers to forge a local economy that shares wealth and power more equally and puts environmental sustainability at its heart, and this work is making good progress under the Inclusive Employer Task Group strand of the Oxford Strategic Partnership.

·         There are clear benefits to co-operation and substantial growth in the sector provides a true alternative to business as usual.

Council resolves to:

·         Explore with leading Oxford employers how they can together target our significant procurement spend to achieve social and environmental goals, and monitor its impact.

·         Work to ensure that public spend in Oxford maximises the achievement of social value, including in the activity of City Council-owned companies.

·         Request an update report from the relevant officer to Cabinet and Council within six months of this meeting.