Decision Maker: Executive Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: July 30, 2025

Purpose: To ensure all internal governance for all Children's commissioning activity for 2025 to 2027 is met and appropriate approval for all decisions is obtained.

Content: RESOLVED             Educational Psychologist: (i)             To abandon the procurement of the incomplete FPS for Educational Psychologists and to call off the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation (YPO) Framework until 31 March 2027 whilst a full review of the service is completed. (ii)           Delegated authority to be given to the Director of Children’s Services to make a decision in relation to the preferred option for delivery following the review to commence 1 April 2027.   Independent Travel Training: (iii)          To continue with the current arrangements with Pure Innovations from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027 to allow a review to take place and then to retender in Summer 2026 to procure a new contract starting on 1 April 2027 for a period of three years to 31 March 2030 with the option to extend by two years to 31 March 2032.               Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service: (iv)          To continue with the current arrangements with the Together Trust from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2026 to allow a review to take place and approval to enter a joint contract with Stockport MBC, Rochdale MBC and Trafford Council and retender the Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service contract to commence 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031 for a period of five years with the option to extend by two years to 31 March 2033.               Restorative Justice contract: (v)           To continue with the current arrangements and extend them from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 for a period of 12 months and approval to review and retender the Restorative Justice contract with a view to start a new contract from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2030 for a period of four years with the option to extend by two years to 30 June 2032.               Looked After Children Attendance Collection System: (vi)          To extend the current core contract with IRIS Education dated 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2026 for a period of 12 months from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027 after which a service review will be completed. (vii)        Delegated authority to be given to the appropriate officers to make a Delegated Officer Decision in relation to the preferred option for delivery. (viii)       To extend the “Add-on” element of the contract for one academic term from 1 September 2025 to 31 December 2025.               LAC Post 16 Achievement Co-ordinator: (ix)       To direct award the contract to Tameside College of Technology for a period of five years from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2030 with the option to extend for two years from 1 August 2030 to 31 July 2032.               Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS): (x)           To continue with current funding arrangements to 31 March 2026 to allow time for a full review of the service to take place and a decision on the best procurement options to be made.  (xi)          Delegated authority to be given to the appropriate officers to make a Delegated Officer Decision in relation to the preferred option for delivery               Children with Disabilities Commissioned Services – Flexible Purchasing System:  (xii)        To procure a new open Flexible Purchasing System for the provision of a range of daytime and overnight support to children and young people with SEND, physical and sensory disabilities and their families/carers to commence 1 April 2026 for a period of five years to 31 March 2031 with the option to extend for a further two years from 1 April 2031 to 31 March 2033.               Big Life – Living Well Tameside – All Age Commissioning Joint Arrangement : (xiii)       For a joint award to be made to Big Life – Living Well Tameside for the delivery of the two projects detailed in Section 10 of the report.  The contract award will be for the following periods.   Staying Close: Period 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026 for the contract value for 2025/2026 of £0.111m with the option to extend by one year from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027 (if further funding is secured). Get Britain Working:Period 1 September 2025 to 31 March 2026 for the contract value for 2025/2026 of £0.624m (Subject to confirmation of the grant award).   Transition Planning: (xiv)       To extend the core contract from 1 February 2026 to 31 January 2027 with the option to extend for a further 12-month period from 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2028.   Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education: (xv)        That Executive Cabinet note that an arrangement has been entered into with Pennine Learning for the period 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026.   Alternative Educational Provision (AP): (xvi)       To direct award of a contract commencing 31 July 2025 to 30 July 2026 for a period of twelve months to enable a full review of Alternative Provision in the borough to take place.   Delegated authority to the appropriate Officers: (xvii)     That authority be delegated to the appropriate officers, to approve the proposed procurement route, following reviews and the contract awards - following the tenders, via a Delegated Officer Decision Notice, subject to compliance with the Council’s Procurement Standing Orders.