The desire to make a positive difference to people's lives is what motivates many to get involved with local government in the first place. It's about spending time and resources on things that will benefit lives and making decisions that serve the greater good.

Yet the fact that communities are fundamental to local government does not change one inconvenient truth: the Social Value Act, a major piece of legislation designed to help local authorities use their buying power to benefit communities, is struggling to make the hoped-for impact.