Decision Maker:

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: December 8, 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 extension of Contract for Interim Special Projects Solicitor, as detailed in the table below:   Detail required Answers Contract Reference  (to be supplied by procurement) Title/Description of Contracted Service/Supply/Project Extension of Interim Arrangements for Special Projects Solicitor Name of Contractor Tile Hill Type of organisation (to be supplied by Procurement) Public Limited Company Status of Organisation (to be supplied by Procurement) SME Value of Contract Extension (£) Up to £84,840 Total value of Awarded (including extension period) £219, 660 (estimated to March 26) Existing Contract Term 26/08/2024 to 31/10/2025 Extension Period 01/11/2025 to 31/03/2026 Contact Officer (Name & number) Kate Story Lead Service Group Other (please identify below) How was the contract procured? Call-off by Direct Award Framework Details Local Government Resourcing Partnership (LGRP) framework Lot 1 Funding Source Choose an item. Ethical Contractor (EC): Mayor’s Employment Charter No EC: Committed to sign the Mayor’s Employment Charter No EC: Committed to the principles outlined in the Mayor’s Employment Charter Yes EC: Accredited Living Wage Employer No EC: Committed to becoming Accredited Living wage Employer No   The reasons are: This role provides specialist expertise and knowledge in local authority governance and law, including a knowledge of the Council's governance.  The role provides additional capacity and direct support to the City Solicitor in connection with the Governance 360 review.   Options considered and rejected were: Not to extend the contract leaving the assigned work unallocated which could have an impact on securing better outcomes for residents through our review of Gov360.   Assessment of risk: Should we not be able to secure these services there will be insufficient capacity to undertake a key organisational project; a project that supports the organisation with improved governance and assurance.    The source of funding is: The Budget is allocated for the financial year 25/26 to cover this cost with the service group for this post from AD Legal & Governance Revenue budget.   Legal advice obtained: The appointment of an agency worker on a contract where the value of the contract exceeds £150,000 is subject to authorisation by Procurement Board in accordance with the Council's Contractual Standing Orders.   Due to the services being contracted via established Frameworks, there is minimal employment law risk in the assignment.  Agency workers are defined and afforded protection in the Agency Worker Regulations 2010  and the definition an employee is defined in s 230 (1) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 Employment Rights Act 1996 which shows a differential in employment status of Interims vs Employees.  Whilst this is a longer term assignment, this does not as a result of time turn the relationship into that of employer and employee.  Any noted risk associated to this is minimal as conditions would need to be met and proven through legal processes by the agency worker.   HR policies should be checked to clarify that there are no provisions that state an agency worker who after having worked a specific duration of time will then be treated as an employee.   Financial advice obtained: This paper set out the option to extend the agency contractual arrangement for Special Projects Solicitor to support the Governance 360 programme on an interim basis.   This arrangement has been in place since August 2024 and is proposed to be extended from 1st November 2025 until 31st March 2026. The value of the extension is £85K taking the total expenditure to £220K. There is budget provision in 2025/26 within the service group for this post from AD Legal & Governance Revenue budget.   Procurement advice obtained: Salford City Council’s Contractual Standing Orders states that where there is a framework this must be used unless there is an auditable reason not to do so.   The London Borough of Waltham Forest and YPO formed a partnership to jointly procure a framework for the provision of Executive and Interim Recruitment services, which commenced 10th November 2021 until 9th November 2025, and this was done through a complaint competitive tendering process under Public Contract Regulations 2015.   This is called the Local Government Resourcing Partnership (LGRP). Lot 2 of this framework provides for Interim Executive Recruitment. The framework allows for an organisation to procure on a direct award basis. The responsibility of the direct award lies with the organisation, and the decision to carry out a direct award through the framework will be based on the most economically advantageous solution for each organisation’s requirements. There is fixed pricing agreed as part of this framework and this will be considered for all direct awards on the framework.   The original award was approved by the Executive Director for Resources and Transformation in October 2024 via DDN due to the estimated value being under £150k.  With the total value now exceeding £150k, approval is now required from Procurement Board for the extension period.   Whilst the framework has expired, the original award and subsequent extension was made whilst the framework was still in existence. Any further extension to this contract beyond 29th January 2027 cannot be made using this framework and another suitable route to market would be required.   HR advice obtained: The Special Projects Solicitor was secured via contractual arrangements, this is an extension to this contract.  Work during the tenure of this extension will be to support the Gov360 project which is additional to the work within the Legal Department and hence requires additional specialist legal support due to the complex nature of the project.   In repose to the legal comment, there are no policy provision in place to allow Agency workers to claim employment status following particular tenure of assignments.   Climate change implications obtained: N/A   Contact details Contact Officer:  Sam Betts          Telephone number:   ·     The Lead Member has been consulted and is supportive of the proposed contract.     Signed:    Cllr J Youd         Dated:     8 December 2025.               Lead Member   FOR DEMOCRATIC SERVICES USE ONLY   This decision was published on 9 December 2025 This decision will come in force at 4pm on 16 December 2025 unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.     AND     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 extension of Contract for Interim Performance and Improvement Manager, as detailed in the table below:   Detail required Answers Contract Reference  (to be supplied by procurement) Title/Description of Contracted Service/Supply/Project Extension of Interim Arrangements for Performance and Improvement Manager Name of Contractor Adecco Type of organisation (to be supplied by Procurement) Private Limited Company Status of Organisation (to be supplied by CoProcurement) Non-SME Value of Contract Extension (£) £          58,808.75 until March 26 Total value of Awarded (including extension period) £          271,101.88 (to date) Existing Contract Term 20/05/2024 to 19/10/2025 Extension Period 20/10/2025 to 27/03/2026 Contact Officer (Name & number) Kate Story Lead Service Group Adults, Social Care & Health Partnerships How was the contract procured? Call-off by Direct Award Framework Details (where applicable) ESPO Ref 3S Strategic HR Services Lot 1e Health and Social Care Funding Source Choose an item. Ethical Contractor (EC): Mayor’s Employment Charter No EC: Committed to sign the Mayor’s Employment Charter No EC: Committed to the principles outlined in the Mayor’s Employment Charter Yes EC: Accredited Living Wage Employer No EC: Committed to becoming Accredited Living wage Employer No   The reasons are: The role provides specialist expertise and leadership capacity to deliver improvement plans, embed sustainable practices, and support transformation during a period of high demand. Key outcomes include driving inspection-related improvement, strengthening performance management, leading digital and system enhancements, and aligning business planning and reporting to regulatory expectations—all aimed at securing better outcomes for residents.   Options considered and rejected were: Not to extend the contract leaving the assigned work unallocated which could have an impact on securing better outcomes for residents.   Assessment of risk: With an upcoming review of the Section 75 arrangements and the associated transformation of Adults Social Care that the City Council is undertaking would be negatively impacted by this role and work remaining unfulfilled.   The source of funding is: Adult Social Care and Health Partnerships Reserves   Legal advice obtained: Due to the services being contracted via established Frameworks, there is minimal employment law risk in the assignment.  Agency workers are defined and afforded protection in the Agency Worker Regulations 2010  and the definition an employee is defined in s 230 (1) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 Employment Rights Act 1996 which shows a differential in employment status of Interims vs Employees.  Whilst this is a longer term assignment, this does not as a result of time turn the relationship into that of employer and employee.  Any noted risk associated to this is minimal as conditions would need to be met and proven through legal processes by the agency worker.   HR policies should be checked to clarify that there are no provisions that state an agency worker who after having worked a specific duration of time will then be treated as an employee.   Financial advice obtained: This paper set out the option to extend the agency arrangement with Adecco for the supply of the Performance and Improvement Manger on an interim basis. This arrangement has been in place since May 2024 and is proposed to be extended from 20th October 2025 until 27th March 2026. The value of the extension is £59K taking the total expenditure to £271K. There is no budget provision for this arrangement within the service group and if approved it will need to be met from reserves.   Procurement advice obtained: Salford City Council’s Contractual Standing Orders states that where there is a framework this must be used unless there is an auditable reason not to do so. The award to Adecco was originally made in May 2024 via a direct award under the ESPO framework Ref 3S_22 for Strategic HR Services, which commenced 7th July 2022 until 6th July 2026.  This framework was procured through a compliant competitive tendering process under Public Contracts Regulations 2015.   Lot 2e of this framework provides for Executive and Managerial Interim Recruitmentin Health & Social Care. The framework allows for an organisation to procure on a direct award basis. The responsibility of the direct award lies with the organisation, and the decision to carry out a direct award through the framework will be based on the most economically advantageous solution for each organisation’s requirements. There is fixed pricing agreed as part of this framework and this will be considered for all direct awards on the framework.   The original award was approved by the Chief Executive via DDN due to the estimated value being under £150k.  Due to combined value now exceeding £150k, approval is now required from Procurement Board for the extension period.   HR advice obtained: The Interim Performance and Improvement Manager was secured via contractual arrangements, this is an extension to this contract.  Work during the tenure of this extension will be prioritised to establish the future requirements across Adult Social Care and should the need be continuing, to establish the role as an opportunity for individuals to be contracted directly with the Council rather than through framework arrangements.   In response to the legal comment, there are no policy provisions in place to allow Agency workers to claim employment status following particular tenure of assignments.   Climate change implications obtained: N/A   Contact details Contact Officer: Sam Betts           Telephone number:   ·     The Lead Member has been consulted and is supportive of the proposed contract.   Signed:    Cllr J Youd         Dated:    8 December 2025.              Lead Member   FOR DEMOCRATIC SERVICES USE ONLY   This decision was published on 9 December 2025 This decision will come in force at 4pm on 16 December 2025 unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.     AND     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 extension of Contract for Interim Director of Housing, as detailed in the table below:   Detail required Answers Contract Reference  (to be supplied by procurement) Title/Description of Contracted Service/Supply/Project Extension of Interim Arrangements for Director of Housing Name of Contractor Tile Hill Type of organisation (to be supplied by Procurement) Public Limited Company Status of Organisation (to be supplied by Procurement) SME Value of Contract Extension (£) £          166,260 until May 26 Total value of Awarded (including extension period) £          406,980 (to date) Existing Contract Term 18/09/2024 to 22/09/2025 Extension Period 23/09/2025 to 31/05/2026 Contact Officer (Name & number) Kate Story Lead Service Group Other (please identify below) How was the contract procured? Call-off by Direct Award Framework Details Local Government Resourcing Partnership (LGRP) framework Lot 1 Funding Source Choose an item. Ethical Contractor (EC): Mayor’s Employment Charter No EC: Committed to sign the Mayor’s Employment Charter No EC: Committed to the principles outlined in the Mayor’s Employment Charter Yes EC: Accredited Living Wage Employer No EC: Committed to becoming Accredited Living wage Employer No   The reasons are: A permanent Director of Housing role has been approved; this decision is to extend the interim arrangement until May 2026 to maintain leadership continuity and deliver transformation objectives whilst recruitment is undertaken.   Options considered and rejected were? Not to extend the contract leaving the assigned work unallocated which could have an impact on securing better outcomes for residents.   Assessment of risk: Housing is a key service for the Council and we are entering winter where pressure on these services traditionally grows.  Leaving the service without a director would add additional pressures on Adult Social Care and Place leaders in a time where there are many conflicting priorities with services and other projects being vulnerable due to the increased demand on individuals time.    The source of funding is: ASC and Health partnerships revenue budget incorporated in the overall position for the Council in 25/26.   Legal advice obtained: Due to the services being contracted via established Frameworks, there is minimal employment law risk in the assignment.  Agency workers are defined and afforded protection in the Agency Worker Regulations 2010  and the definition an employee is defined in s 230 (1) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 Employment Rights Act 1996 which shows a differential in employment status of Interims vs Employees.  Whilst this is a longer term assignment, this does not as a result of time turn the relationship into that of employer and employee.  Any noted risk associated to this is minimal as conditions would need to be met and proven through legal processes by the agency worker.   HR policies should be checked to clarify that there are no provisions that state an agency worker who after having worked a specific duration of time will then be treated as an employee.   Financial advice obtained: This paper set out the option to extend the agency arrangement with Tile Hill for the supply of the Director of Housing on an interim basis. This arrangement has been in place since September 2024 and is proposed to be extended from 23rd September 2025 until 31st March 2026. The value of the extension is £166K taking the total expenditure to £407K. There is budget provision of £130K per annum within the service group for this post. This arrangement will exceed the specific budget available for this post and is currently included within the overall position for Housing within the Adult Social Care and Health Partnerships service group which is included in the overall financial position for the Council in 25/26.   Procurement advice obtained: Salford City Council’s Contractual Standing Orders states that where there is a framework this must be used unless there is an auditable reason not to do so.   The London Borough of Waltham Forest and YPO formed a partnership to jointly procure a framework for the provision of Executive and Interim Recruitment services, which commenced 10th November 2021 until 9th November 2025, and this was done through a complaint competitive tendering process under Public Contract Regulations 2015.   This is called the Local Government Resourcing Partnership (LGRP). Lot 2 of this framework provides for Interim Executive Recruitment. The framework allows for an organisation to procure on a direct award basis. The responsibility of the direct award lies with the organisation, and the decision to carry out a direct award through the framework will be based on the most economically advantageous solution for each organisation’s requirements. There is fixed pricing agreed as part of this framework and this will be considered for all direct awards on the framework.   The original award was approved by the Executive Director for Resources and Transformation in October 2024 via DDN due to the estimated value being under £150k.  With the total value now exceeding £150k, approval is now required from Procurement Board for the extension period.   Whilst the framework has expired, the original award and subsequent extension was made whilst the framework was still in existence. Any further extension to this contract beyond 31st May 2026 cannot be made using this framework and another suitable route to market would be required.   HR advice obtained: To support the ongoing service transformation and transition to a single integrated housing function, the Workforce Panel approved the creation of a Director of Housing and to recruit permanently to that role. This role is currently being covered on an interim basis.  The purpose of this report is to seek approval for an extension to contract for the Interim Director of Housing pending the substantive appointment being made.   This extension is required to maintain continuity of service in this critical area while the substantive appointment is made through the recruitment process which is planned to commence in the New Year.   In response to the legal comment , the are no policies that would allow agency staff to claim employee status.   Climate change implications obtained: N/A   Contact details Contact Officer: Sam Betts Telephone number:   ·     The Lead Member has been consulted and is supportive of the proposed contract.     Signed:    Cllr J Youd         Dated:    8 December 2025.              Lead Member   FOR DEMOCRATIC SERVICES USE ONLY   This decision was published on 9 December 2025 This decision will come in force at 4pm on 16 October 2025 unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.