The Officer Key Decision meeting on Friday 2 February 2024 resulted in the approval of a contract extension for the Interpretation, Translation and Transcription Service. This decision, valued at £900,000, will ensure the continued provision of vital communication support for Newham's diverse residents.

Interpretation, Translation and Transcription Service - Contract Extension

The Director of Public Health and Communities, Deputy Corporate Director, Adults and Health, Jason Strelitz, in consultation with Councillor Neil Wilson, Lead Member for Health and Adult Social Care, agreed to extend the contract with The Language Shop Limited (TLS) for the Interpretation, Translation and Transcription Service. This extension will run for two years, from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2025, with an anticipated total value of £900,000.

The decision was made to ensure the continuation of essential services that support accessibility and inclusion for Newham's residents. The report highlighted that good communication is crucial for residents to understand information, make informed decisions, and express their needs. Furthermore, the Accessible Information Standard, a legal requirement since August 2016 for health and social care providers, mandates a consistent approach to meeting the information and communication needs of individuals with disabilities, impairments, or sensory loss.

The current contract with TLS, initially awarded on 1 January 2022 through the Health Trust Europe (HTE) Framework Agreement, was due to expire on 31 December 2023. The extension allows the Council to maintain service continuity while the HTE re-procures its Framework Agreement in 2024/25.

The report outlined that TLS was incorporated in 2014, with the Council becoming a minority shareholder (49%) in 2018, while an Employee Ownership Trust holds the remaining 51%. The Framework Agreement allows the Council to define its own service specifications and rates within an agreed range, with the Council securing the lowest rate.

The decision supports Priority 1: 'A healthier Newham and ageing well' of the 'Building a Fairer Newham' Corporate Plan 2022-26.^[1]

Alternative options considered included doing nothing, which was discounted due to the significant need for these services, and running a full open tender process, which was deemed premature as the Council's corporate Language Translation and Interpretation Policy is under review. Using another framework or dynamic purchasing system was also discounted as it offered no obvious added value.

The report also detailed the legal implications, noting that the contract extension falls within the Council's powers under Section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972 and the general power of competence under Section 1 of the Localism Act 2011. The contract value exceeds the threshold for the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, requiring adherence to these regulations.

An Equalities Impact Assessment conducted in July 2021 identified a significant need for interpretation and translation services, not only for language barriers (42% of the population has English as a second or third language) but also for British Sign Language users, and for documentation in various formats such as audio, braille, easy-read, and large print for older residents and those with learning disabilities or sensory impairments. This assessment will be updated as part of the policy review.

The decision was formally recorded on 5 February 2024, with the end of the call-in period set for midnight on 16 February 2024, allowing for implementation from 17 February 2024.