Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: October 14, 2024

Purpose:

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 for the Integrated Information, Advice and Guidance for Adults and Employer Brokerage Support Service in order to deliver the In Work Progression service, as detailed in the table below:   Detail required Answers Contract Reference Title/Description of Contracted Service/Supply/Project Integrated Information, Advice and Guidance for Adults and Employer Brokerage Support Service   Name of Contractor Economic Solutions Ltd t/a Manchester Growth Company Type of organisation (to be supplied by Corporate Procurement) Other Status of Organisation (to be supplied by Corporate Procurement) Non-SME Value of Contract Variation (£) £208,931 full project Existing Contract Term O1/01/2024 – 31/03/2026 Extension Period 01/10/2024 – 31/03/2026 Contact Officer (Name & number) Alison Burnett: 0161 793 2535 Lead Service Group Place Funding Source Grant Ethical Contractor (EC): Mayor’s Employment Charter EC: Committed to sign the Charter EC: Accredited Living Wage Employer   The reasons are: The In Work Progression service in Salford is part of a new GM In Work Progression Service which aims to tackle rising levels of in-work poverty in GM, by supporting residents who are in work and within a low-income household to progress into more skilled and/ or better paid work or increase their hours of work.   Given the alignment of the delivery principles of the In Work Progression service with the scope and ambition of the Integrated Information, Advice and Guidance for Adults and Employer Brokerage Support Service (now branded as Salford Employment Hub),  together with the short timescales available to mobilise the new service, it is in the best interests of the City Council to vary the existing Salford Employment Hub contract to deliver the core elements of the service.   Options considered and rejected were: In-house delivery of the In Work Progression core service – this was not deemed possible because of the need for staff to have specialist Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) qualifications. However the core IAG service is part of a wider proposed Salford In Work Progression delivery model which includes additional capacity into the co-ordination, support, outreach and engagement capacity within the City Council.   A competitive open tender exercise – this was not deemed possible because of the short lead times for mobilising the new service, the potential for increased costs through a stand-alone service and potential for confusion for residents and lack of connectivity with the core Salford Employment Hub service.   Assessment of risk: The In Work Progression funding will provide an enhanced service for employed residents in low income households within Salford. Any delays in agreeing the proposed delivery model will impact on our ability to meet the targets and outcomes described for this service over the agreed 2 year delivery period.   The source of funding is: GMCA reserves (£208,931)    Legal advice obtained: Yes – supplied by The Shared Legal Service (Tony Hatton).   Financial advice obtained: Yes – supplied by Luba Velychko Accountant, Place Directorate.   Procurement advice obtained: Yes – supplied by Emma Heyes, Procurement Team.   HR advice obtained: N/A.   Climate change implications obtained: Yes – supplied in consultation with Mike Hemingway, Environment Policy Team, for the original contract.   The following documents have been used to assist the decision process: ·      Approval to Award the Contract for an Integrated Information, Advice and Guidance for Adults and Employer Brokerage Support Service – Report to Procurement Board on 13th September 2023. ·      In – Work Progression Programme – Report to the Lead Member for Skills & Work and Business Support Services on 11th September 2024.   Contact Officer: ·      Alison Burnett, Head of Skills and Work: 0161 793 2535 ·      Angela Arthur, Commissioning Manager: 0161 793 3408   ·      This matter is also subject to consideration by the Lead Member for Skills & Work, Business and Workforce.   ·      The Lead Member 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 Community and Neighbourhoods.     Signed:    Cllr J Youd          Dated:    14 October 2024.                Lead Member   FOR DEMOCRATIC SERVICES USE ONLY   *           This decision was published on 14 October 2024 *           This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 21 October 2024 unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.