Agenda item

The Area Council Manager introduced the item.  The meeting heard how the Social Return On Investment methodology not only captured any financial returns due to Area Council investment, but also the wider impact.

Members noted how the methodology used financial proxies to place a value on social outcomes, each proxy being supported by a body of research. In addition the calculation took account other issues such as ‘leakage’ – the extent to which others benefitted who were outside the original scope of the project, and ‘deadweight’ – the proportion of the improvement seen which would have naturally occurred without any intervention.

The meeting heard how consultants had worked with the Communities and Area Governance Team to analyse one project from each Area Council, with the One Stop Shop being considered for the South Area.  It was noted that Area Council Managers also received training in order for them to be able to calculate the Social Return On Investments of other commissions in the future.

Members discussed using the methodology to show the impact of investments made by the Area Council, and it was suggested that each of the Area Council commissions be analysed. 

Various options for taking this forward were discussed.  These included convening a working group to assist the Area Council Manager in analysing the remaining projects, or extending the hours of part time staff on the Area Team to undertake the work.

The prevailing opinion was that some finance be allocated to engaging a specialist consultant to facilitate a workshop for the wider Area Team and Members of the Area Council to learn more about the methodology, using Area Council commissions as working examples.

RESOLVED:-

(i)     that the report be received and its content noted;

(ii)    that more detailed proposals and associated costings for a facilitated workshop on Social Return on Investment Workshop be submitted to a future meeting of the Area Council.