Content

Salford City Council – Record of
Decision
 
I Councillor Youd, Lead Member
for Finance and Support Services and chairman of the Procurement
Board, accept the recommendation of the Procurement Board and in
exercise of the powers contained within the Council Constitution do
hereby:
 
·    
approve for an Extension of
Contract for The Greater Manchester Archaeological Advisory
Service, as detailed in the table
below:
 

Detail required

Answers

Contract Reference

 (to be
supplied by procurement)

Title/Description of Contracted
Service/Supply/Project

Archaeological Planning Services for the AGMA
Authorities.
 

Name of Contractor

University of Salford

Type of organisation

(to be supplied by
Procurement)

Choose an item.

Status of Organisation

(to be supplied by
CoProcurement)

Choose an item.

Value of Contract Extension
(£)

£156,000 per annum (increasing to
£159,000 in 2027/28)

Total value of Awarded (including
extension period)

£1,171,321
Contract awarded (to date)

Existing Contract Term

01/04/2020 to 31/03/2026

Extension Period

01/04/2026 to 31/03/2028

Contact Officer (Name &
number)

James Shuttleworth 07773009862

Lead Service Group

Place

Funding Source

Combination of Above (please detail below)

Ethical Contractor (EC): Mayor’s
Employment Charter

Yes

EC: Committed to sign the Mayor’s
Employment Charter

Yes

EC: Committed to the principles outlined
in the Mayor’s Employment Charter

Yes

EC: Accredited Living Wage
Employer

Yes

EC: Committed to becoming Accredited
Living wage Employer

Yes

Funding source – Association
of Greater Manchester Authorities, confirmed by AGMA Executive in
August 2025. Salford will be responsible for 1/10 of the contract
value.
 
The reasons are: the current
contract allows three extensions for two years. The current
suppliers of this service are considered to provide an excellent
service and the offer represents value for money for Salford and
the other Greater Manchester districts.
 
Options considered and rejected were: undertaking an open tender for the
service.
 
Assessment of risk:
The risk of not
procuring ongoing service is that planning decisions are made
without robust archaeological advice. Such decisions may be open to
legal challenge. There is a further risk that permitting
development without fully considering archaeological implications
may result in the unnecessary loss of archaeological assets and
heritage.
 
The source of funding
is Greater Manchester Combined
Authority.
 
Legal advice obtained:
Submitted by: The Shared Legal Service
It
is an established principle that an existing public contract is
capable of being extended (or modified
providing any modification does not affect the overall nature of
the contract), and CSO’s also allow for
contract extensions to be made, where the parties agree and where
the original contract makes provision for such an extension of the
original term.
 
When
the contract was originally awarded in 2020 it was clear in the
contract documents that the original six-year term would be subject
to potential extensions of two years each. Accordingly, any risk
that the award would be subject to realistic challenge by an
aggrieved provider is extremely low, and the option to extend
within the contract is now being properly exercised.
 
Financial advice obtained: Submitted by: Ethan Bestwick/ Accountant/
Ethan.Bestwick@salford.gov.uk11/12/2025
The GMCA has agreed to
assume responsibility for the ongoing costs of this contract. The
AGMA Executive Board has confirmed that funding is secured to
support the proposed two?year extension. Consequently, there are no material financial
implications for SCC in relation to this contract.
 
Procurement advice obtained: Submitted by: Emma Heyes, Category
Manager
The award of contract
to Salford University was made following a competitive tendering
process.  The contract period advertised
on the tender was for six years commencing 01/04/2020, and 3
optional two-year extension periods.
 
This request to extend
the contract is the first of those optional extension
periods.
Due to the value for
the extension period being over £150k, the commissioner is
seeking authorisation to do this via procurement board.
 
Following approval,
the council’s contracts register must be updated to the new
end date.
 
HR advice obtained: N/A.
 
Climate change implications obtained: Supplied by: Environmental
Policy Team
Having effective
heritage and archaeological advice supports the effective operation
of planning processes across Greater Manchester, including in
Salford. This advice can support the reuse of existing heritage
buildings, which has positive climate change implications by
preserving embedded carbon in existing buildings.
 
Documents used
The following documents have
been used to assist the decision process:
·    
Procurement Board Report
 
Contact details
Contact Officer: James Shuttleworth
Telephone number: 07773009862
 
·    
The Lead Member has been consulted and is supportive
of the proposed contract.
·    
The appropriate Scrutiny Committee to call-in the
decision is the Growth and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny
Committee
 
 

Signed:   Cllr J
Youd          Dated:
   12 January
2026.
         
   Lead Member
 

FOR DEMOCRATIC SERVICES USE
ONLY
 

This decision was published on 13
January 2026.
This decision will come in force
at 4pm on 20 January 2026 unless
it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process
Rules.