Content

Salford City Council – Record of
Decision
 
I Councillor Youd, Lead Member
for Finance and Support Services and chairman of the Procurement
Board, in exercise of the powers contained within the
Council Constitution
do hereby:
 
·     
approve the extension of the Contract
forEnglish language support for Hong Kong
British Nationals Overseas (HKBNOs) settling in Salford,
as detailed in the table below:
 

Detail required

Answers

Contract
Reference

Title/Description of Contracted
Service/Supply/Project

English Language Support for
HKBNOs

Name
of Contractor

Train to TEFL

Type of
organisation
(to be supplied by Corporate
Procurement)

Private Limited
Company

Status of
Organisation
(to be supplied by Corporate
Procurement)

SME

Value of Contract Extension
(£)

£280,000 per annum estimated
average (based on previous learner numbers)       

Existing Contract
Term

01/04/2023 to 30/06/2024

Extension
Period

01/07/2024 to 30/06/2025

Contact Officer (Name &
number)

Angela Arthur  Tel 0161 793 3408

Lead Service
Group

Place

Funding
Source

External Funding Source (please
identify below)

Ethical Contractor (EC):
Mayor’s Employment Charter

EC: Committed to sign the
Charter

EC: Accredited Living Wage
Employer

 

 
The reasons are:
In
July 2021, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
(DLUHC) launched the Welcome Programme Fund (WPF) which includes
funding for English language support to Hong Kong British Overseas
Nationals (HK BN(O)) who were expected to accept the
Government’s offer to resettle in the UK. All local
authorities can apply for retrospective grants on a quarterly basis
for any English language support provided over the previous 3
months.
 
Although the Welcome Fund was originally conceived as a five
year programme, it requires annual confirmation from the Treasury
with no guarantee of continuance. The latest approval was received
from DLUHC on 8th March 2024 for the continuation of the
Welcome Fund for a fourth year.
 
Train to TEFL Ltd are our principal delivery partner
for English language support in Salford.
 
The uncertainty around
continued funding, retrospective claims and unknown learner numbers
and levels make delivery unpredictable and unattractive to many
ESOL providers.  However, Train to TEFL Ltd have been responsive and adaptable
in their approach to delivery and provide highly quality learning
provision.
 
Given this context and best value considerations, we
therefore wish to exercise the option to extend the language
support contract with Train to TEFL for a further 12
months.
 
Options considered and rejected were:
Developing a specification and putting this out to competition
– from our previous experience of the constraints within the
provider market (also reflected at a Greater Manchester level), the
need to ensure continued delivery in response to on-going demand
for English language support and the uncertainty of further funding
beyond the current financial year, we do not consider this to be a
viable option.
 
Assessment of risk:
There are a number of barriers
which prevent adults in the city accessing learning and training
opportunities, including language barriers. The proposal within
this report seeks to ensure we can continue to provide English
Language support in response to demand from Hong Kong British
Nationals Overseas arriving in Salford.
 
The source of funding is:
The cost of the project will be
met through DLUHC’s Welcome Programme Fund.
 
Legal advice obtained: supplied by Tony Hatton, The Shared Legal
Service.
 
Financial advice obtained: supplied Luba Velychko, Accountant.

 
Procurement advice obtained: supplied by Christine Flisk, The
Corporate Procurement Team.
 
HR advice obtained: N/A
 
Climate change implications obtained: N/A
 
Documents used:
·     
The relevant documents contain exempt or
confidential information and are not available for public
inspection.

Contact Officer:  Angela Arthur, Commissioning Manager     

Telephone number: 0161 793
3408
 
Contact Officer: Alison
Burnett, Head of Skills and Work:

Telephone number: 0161 793 2535
 
·        
The Lead Member for Skills & Work, Business and
Workforce has been consulted and is supportive of the proposed
contract.
·        
This matter is not subject to consideration by
another Lead Member.
·        
The appropriate Scrutiny Committee to call-in the
decision is Growth and Prosperity
 
 

Signed:    Cllr J
Youd          Dated:
   12 June
2024.
           
    Lead Member
 

FOR DEMOCRATIC SERVICES USE
ONLY
 
*          
This decision was published on 12 June 2024
*          
This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 19 June
2024 unless it is called-in in
accordance with the Decision Making
Process Rules.