Decision Maker:

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: August 18, 2025

Purpose:

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:   ·      the award of the Contract for Development and Delivery of the Salford Centenary Cultural Framework, with an aggregate value of £570,000, to the two successful organisations, and   ·      authorise the City Solicitor to enter into the requisite legal agreements with the two successful organisations in relation to the Contract for Development and Delivery of the Salford Centenary Cultural Framework, as detailed in the table below:   Detail required Answers Title/Description of Contracted Service/Supply/Project Development and Delivery of the Salford Centenary Cultural Framework Procurement Reference numbers (DN and CR number supplied by Procurement)   Name of Successful Contractor Walk the Plank and From the Other Supplier Registration Number (to be supplied by Procurement   Proclass Classification No. (to be completed by procurement)   Type of organisation (to be supplied by Procurement) Choose an item. Status of Organisation (to be supplied by Procurement) Choose an item. Contract Value (£) £          570,000 Total contract value £ (including extensions) £          570,000 Contract Duration 18 months Contract Start Date 20/08/2025 Contract End Date 31/12/2027 Optional Extension Period 1 months Optional Extension Period 2 months Who will approve each Extension Period? Choose an item Contact Officer (Name & number) Jacquie Russell, Jacquie.russell@salford.gov.uk Lead Service Group Reform & Transformation How the contract was procured? (to be supplied by procurement) ITT Framework Details (where applicable) (procurement body, framework reference & title, start/ end date   Funding Source Revenue Budget 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 ?     The Reasons are: 2026 marks Salford's 100th anniversary of city status. Today, Salford is a dynamic and evolving city, thriving culturally, economically, and residentially. To celebrate this milestone, the ambition is to develop a programme that creates an education impact, gathers business support, and engages with all stakeholders across the city.  It might start with a culture programme – but will extend well beyond that.   This decision will provide agreement to enter into a contract for the detailed development, design and delivery of the cultural framework as part of the city wide programme of events and celebrations. This contract will ensure the programme is delivered by organisations with a proven track record in delivering creative events of the highest calibre; a proven history of community engagement; the capacity and experience to deliver an international standard of events and experiences at both scale and pace.   The preferred suppliers have been identified through a competitive tender exercise, undertaken on behalf of Salford City Councuil and the Salford Culture and Place Partnership by Salford CVS.    Following a competitive process Procurement Board is now asked to approve the contract award to both Walk the Plank and From the Other to enable the detailed design and delivery of that creative and cultural framework.  This will involve engagement and co-design with local communities, and other partners and stakeholders across the city.  Whilst the framework sets out an overall vision, this will evolve and develop as a result of that engagement.   At the heart of the approach is consideration of building a long-lasting legacy for the city beyond the 12 month centenary programme. There are a number of opportunities to align the programme with the city’s priorities – especially those on Good Growth, Child Friendly City, Responding to Climate Change, and the opportunity to explore being a UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts.   Both organisations are locally based, and are Real Living Wage Employers.  Both pay freelancers above the Arts Council England benchmarks.  Both organisations have committed to create opportunities for local people to be fully involved as participants, creatives and volunteers offering opportunities for skills development and other transferable benefits.  This includes ensuring the programme developed is fully accessible for all of Salford’s diverse communities.   Assessment of Risk: Medium.   The source of funding is: SCC revenue.   Legal Advice obtained: Surjit Tour, City Solicitor A procurement exercise has been undertaken in accordance with the Council’s Contract Procurement Rules. The approval and award of the contract falls within the delegated authority of the Procurement Board under Standing Order 9.8.3 (page 279 of the Constitution).   The General Power of Competence enables the Council to do things: • an individual may generally do • anywhere in the UK or elsewhere • for a commercial purpose or otherwise, for a charge or without a charge • without the need to demonstrate that it will benefit the authority, its area or persons resident or present in its area.   The initiative, approach and actions proposed in this report fall within the the Council’s General Power of Competence and are consistent with the Council’s constitutional provisions.   Financial Advice obtained: David Mills, Strategic Head of Finance This initiative is part of the city’s 100th anniversary celebrations in 2026 and aims to deliver a high-quality, inclusive cultural programme that engages communities, supports local creative sectors, and aligns with broader strategic goals such as Salford’s bids for UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts and Child Friendly City status. The contract, valued at £570,000 and funded from the revenue budget supported by an approved draw-down of earmarked reserves, is to be awarded to a consortium of two organisations—Walk the Plank and From the Other—following a competitive tender process. Financially, the commitment is significant but fixed, with no optional extensions currently defined. While the report notes that external funding will be pursued to complement council resources, the primary financial risk lies in the urgency of initiating delivery planning to ensure readiness for January 2026. Delays could compromise programme quality and impact, making timely approval and mobilisation essential.   Procurement Advice obtained: Anthony Hilton, Head of Procurement The procurement team have not been involved in this process, however the services to be provided as detailed within this report, may be deemed to be captured under the Light Touch Regime of the Procurement Act 2023.     The Light Touch Regime (LTR) in public procurement refers to a set of more flexible rules for certain types of service contracts, particularly those related to social, health, and education services, that are deemed to be of lower interest to cross-border competition. These rules are designed to offer greater flexibility compared to the standard procurement procedures while still adhering to fundamental principles.    One element of the LTR covers cultural event organisation services (code 79952100), which sits under “Administrative social, educational, healthcare and cultural services”. The services being sought within this report may sit within this category.  The LTR threshold/limit is £663,540 so the value of the proposed work sits within these parameters.   A competitive process has been undertaken, albeit, administered by Salford CVS on the council’s behalf. If approved, under the Procurement Act 2023, a Contract Details Notice for LTR contracts must be published within 120 days of the contract award, instead of the standard 30 days for other contracts types.   HR Advice obtained:N/A   Climate Change Advice obtained: N/A   The following documents have been used to assist the decision process: ·      Report to Procurement Board, 18 August, Approval to Award the Contract forSalford Centenary Cultural Framework   Contact Officer: Jacquie Russell, Director Policy and Performance               Telephone number: 0161 793 3577   ·      The appropriate scrutiny to call-in the decision is the Overview and Scrutiny Panel.     Signed:    Cllr J Youd          Dated:   18 August 2025.                Lead Member   For Democratic Services use only   ·      This decision was published on 19 August 2025 ·      This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 27 August 2025 unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.