The meeting scheduled for Wednesday 29 July 2026 was an Officer Key Decision meeting. The primary item on the agenda was the award of a contract for the supply, installation, and maintenance of stairlifts.

Contract Award - Stair Lifts

The meeting was scheduled to consider the direct award of a call-off contract to Stannah for the supply, installation, and maintenance of stairlifts. This contract was intended to cover the period from 1 August 2026 to 31 March 2028, with an estimated total value of £760,000.

The report pack indicated that stairlifts are essential for residents who cannot use stairs independently, enabling them to remain in their own homes and maintain their mobility and independence. The current contract with Stannah, operating under a Yorkshire Procurement Organisation (YPO) Framework Agreement, was due to expire on 31 July 2026, with no option for extension. Delays in the procurement of a replacement YPO agreement meant that an interim arrangement was necessary to avoid disruption to services.

The proposed solution involved using the Procurement for Housing (PfH) Assisted Living Solutions Framework Agreement. This framework allows for a direct award to Stannah, as they were the sole specialist provider appointed to Lot 5 (Assisted Living Solutions) following a competitive procurement process. This route was considered the most efficient and least disruptive option, ensuring continuity of service for residents.

The report highlighted that the demand for stairlift provision has been increasing, with a total expenditure of £839,607 over the past three years, supporting 177 residents with installations. The proposed contract value was deemed consistent with recent expenditure trends.

The decision-maker for this matter was Fiona Connolly, Corporate Director of Adults and Health, in consultation with Councillor Susan Masters, Cabinet Member for Health, Adult Social Care and Environment. The report recommended that the contract be awarded to Stannah, citing legal powers under the Local Government Act 1972 and the Localism Act 2011, and compliance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The proposal was also stated to support the council's priority of A healthier Newham and ageing well as outlined in the Building a Fairer Newham Corporate Plan.

The report also detailed that home adaptations, including stairlifts, are funded through the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) for eligible residents and by the council for its tenants. The proposed arrangements were intended to align with the expiry of other home adaptation contractual arrangements and to allow for a review of procurement strategies by March 2028.

The report noted that the decision, being an Officer Key Decision, would not be implemented until the sixth working day following its publication, allowing members to consider calling it in.