COUNTY councillors have approved a policy statement designed to assist in the procurement of services that could prevent another school meals fiasco.

The Social Value Policy Statement was unanimously approved by members of Dorset County Council’s Cabinet committee.

The statement will allow the council to consider the wider implications of its procurement and support the delivery of the authority’s corporate priorities.

It has amounted from the scrutiny of the free school meals contract, which caused problems for schools in West Dorset and across the county last year.

Both The council and contracted catering firm, Chartwells, came under fire as a number of schools in Dorset failed to have their meals delivered to them, or their meals was delievered late had late delivery issues at the start of the autumn term.

An action plan featuring nine recommendations and a draft Social Value statement were agreed by the Cabinet in February.

Councillors met this week to approve the Social Value Policy Statement and delegate the Social Value Action Plan to the commissioning and procurement board.

Cllr Robin Cook, who introduced the item, said it was an important paper.

Cllr Cook He said: “It looks a bit dry on the surface but actually when you look into it, it’s a very sensible checking exercise on all the procurement of services we undertake.

“It’s a checklist in a way of what benefits the local economy can be given by using local services.”

When reviewing different services, Cllr Cook said: “We need to make sure we look at the whole thing, what effect it’s going to have on the community at large and in particular sections of the community before we put procurement into place.”

“It’s a sensible piece of work that should be adopted.”

Cllr Colin Jamieson said this didn’t mean services should be dealt with in a blanket fashion.

Cllr Jamieson He said: “There’s a degree of due diligence that needs to be applied and it needs to be appropriate.”

Cllr Paul Kimber said he recognised in some cases work would be procured beneficial if from services from outside the county were used, but asked whether an explanation could be received if and when it occurred.

Cllr Cook suggested the county had a rural and agricultural type of economy which meant the council might have to look outside Dorset at times for expertise in other areas.

He said: “Hopefully, if that happens, there will be a great spin off for our local economy.

“I’m not advocating we go outside of Dorset.

"If it’s here, let’s use it.”