Council to prioritize social impact in contract bids

Bradford Council is planning a major revision of how it awards large contracts to ensure agreements provide tangible social benefits for local residents. Last year, the council spent 315 million on services ranging from road maintenance and construction to IT, waste management, and care services.

Under the new framework, any company bidding for a council contract exceeding 100,000 must demonstrate how it will support the community. This could include initiatives such as assisting local charities, offering work experience opportunities, or participating in environmental projects like tree planting.

A report prepared for an upcoming council meeting highlighted that the goal is to implement a system that "streamlines procedures and raises expectations, ensuring the council achieves more from its local expenditures." Previous contractors have already contributed to community programs at no additional cost, the report noted.

One notable example cited was supplier Bechtle, which donated 700 laptops, 400 monitors, and 300 desktop computers to individuals without IT access. Other companies have supported careers workshops, mentoring programs, work experience, tree-planting activities, and foodbank initiatives.

The council emphasized that this approach aims to "maximize the value and community benefits from district-wide spending." While the focus is on procurement processes, the wider intention is to place the community at the heart of all council activities and foster "healthy, thriving, and resilient communities in Bradford District."

A new digital tracking system is set to launch in March 2026, designed to monitor outcomes such as jobs created, CO2 savings, volunteer hours, and the percentage of spending retained locally.

This reform comes amid ongoing financial challenges for Bradford Council, which narrowly avoided effective bankruptcy last year. Emergency government support of 220 million allowed the council to sell assets and implement a 9.99% council tax increasethe highest in the UKalongside 42 million in service cuts. A further 4.99% council tax rise is planned for 2026/27 due to rising social care costs, inflation, and overspending in childrens services now managed by an independent trust.

Author: Sophia Brooks