Socially Responsible Procurement Objectives

The Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023 introduces a Socially Responsible Procurement duty (Section 24), requiring contracting authorities to deliver procurement in a way that improves economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being. Authorities must set, publish and report annually on their socially responsible procurement objectives.

Our Socially Responsible Procurement Objectives were developed through a review of existing policies, strategic priorities and legislative requirements, aligned to our Procurement Strategy 2023–2028 and Welsh Government guidance. The proposed objectives were assessed for deliverability across the procurement lifecycle, measurability through existing reporting frameworks, and alignment with statutory and well-being duties.

Targeted consultation was carried out with officers across the Council, including policy teams and strategic framework managers, to ensure alignment with corporate priorities and Well-being Objectives. Engagement with procurement colleagues across Welsh authorities also informed the approach, supporting consistency in collaborative procurements and reflecting emerging good practice. This process ensures that Carmarthenshire’s final objectives are clear, proportionate and deliverable, reflecting both local priorities and wider public procurement expectations.

Our Socially responsible procurement objectives

These objectives have been designed to collectively maximise contribution to all seven Well-being Goals, applying the sustainable development principle, while remaining deliverable and measurable across the procurement lifecycle.

Procurement Objective 1 – Supporting SMEs and resilient supply chains

• Increase the extent to which the Council’s procurement activity enables fair, open and proportionate access to opportunities, supporting a diverse, resilient and sustainable supplier base, and strengthening local and regional economic resilience.

Procurement Objective 2 – Delivering social value and community benefits

• Strengthen the contribution of procurement to positive social and economic outcomes by ensuring that procurement decisions and contract delivery support wider community well-being, inclusive growth and deliver value for money on a whole-life basis, balancing cost, quality and wider social value outcomes.

Procurement Objective 3 – Reducing carbon and environmental impact

• Improve the environmental sustainability of procurement by reducing carbon emissions and wider environmental impacts associated with goods, works and services, supporting the Council’s net zero and nature recovery ambitions over the life of contracts.

Procurement Objective 4 – Ethical and responsible procurement

• Embed ethical, fair and transparent practices throughout the procurement lifecycle, ensuring that procurement activity supports fair work, responsible supply chains, cultural well-being including the Welsh language, and public trust, while meeting statutory and policy obligations.

For further information, please visit the UK Legislation website.