Bury Council's Cabinet is scheduled to meet on 15 October 2025 to discuss a range of issues, including the Prestwich Village regeneration, school finances, contract awards, and housing matters. The meeting will also cover minutes from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Prestwich Village Regeneration Scheme

The cabinet will consider a report regarding the Prestwich Village Regeneration Scheme. Specifically, the discussion will focus on the procurement of a third-party operator to manage the Phase 1A Travel Hub, which was approved for capital funding on 16 July 2024. The report outlines two potential operating models: using an external third-party operator or managing the hub internally. The report states that:

Officers recommend a two-stage process for acquisition of a travel hub operator. This would entail a process of initial soft market testing by way of an Expression of Interest to ascertain level of interest and compare commercial management models in further detail. The process will also identify the most effective procurement route to market which will likely include use of a recognised procurement framework.

The Public Contract Regulations 2015 and Procurement Act 2023 will govern the procurement process. The cabinet will be asked to approve the recommended operations management model, the two-stage procurement process, and the management of the Travel Hub asset within the Bury Council Commercial Asset Portfolio by the Land & Property Service, with support from Parking Services.

School Finance Team Phased Reduction

A report regarding the phased reduction of the Schools Finance Team will be presented to the cabinet. Due to an increase in the number of schools becoming academies¹, the proposal is to phase down the team through voluntary early retirement applications. The cabinet will be asked to agree to the deletion of posts within the schools finance team through accepting voluntary early retirement applications.

Contract Awards

The cabinet will consider approving several contract awards:

• Cleaning and Janitorial Products: A contract for cleaning and janitorial products may be awarded to Alliance, for a total cost of £640,000 over two years, with an option to extend for two more years.

• Drug and Alcohol Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Services: The cabinet will discuss awarding contracts for drug and alcohol prevention, treatment and recovery services in Bury, Salford and Trafford. The report recommends that the contract for adult services be awarded to Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust (GMMH), and the contract for children, young people and families services be awarded to Early Break.

Care at Home Services

A report concerning Care at Home services will be presented to the cabinet. The report seeks approval for a further 12-month extension for providers that are meeting contractual obligations, until 24 October 2026. The cabinet will also discuss commencing the re-tender process for a new Care at Home service to start in October 2026, for five years, with the option to extend for one year plus one year.

Housing Matters

Several reports relating to housing are scheduled for discussion:

• Enforced Sale Policy and Procedure: The cabinet will consider a report seeking approval to adopt an enforced sale combined policy and procedure. This policy would provide an additional tool to assist with reducing the number of empty properties in the borough. The report states that the policy allows the council to be open, transparent and accountable in decision making when considering a property for an enforced sale and further commits to the Council's strategic objectives.

• Housing Major Works Programme 2025/26: The cabinet will discuss a report seeking formal approval of contract awards that form part of the Housing Major Works Programme. The report recommends granting approval to enter into building contracts for energy efficiency and/or renewable energy works to council properties on Rainsough Estate. It also recommends granting approval to a change of contractor to Live Manage Facilitate Ltd for contract works at Stanley Close and Freetown estates.

• Sureserve Compliance Northwest Contract Extension: A report seeking approval to extend the existing contract with Sureserve Compliance Northwest Ltd for twelve months, until 1 January 2027, will be discussed. The contract covers the delivery of gas compliance, repairs, smoke detector testing and capital boiler works within Housing Services.

• Demolition of Garages at Hawk Close: The cabinet will consider a report seeking approval for the demolition of garages at Hawk Close, Bury. The garages are owned by the council, but are in very poor condition and subject to repeated vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority

The cabinet will consider the minutes of the meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority held on 26 September 2025. According to the minutes, Mayor Andy Burnham announced that the meeting was the first GMCA meeting to have fully livestreamed British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation. The meeting included discussions of the English Devolution and Communities Empowerment Bill, the Old Trafford Regeneration Mayoral Development Corporation, the creation of a Greater Manchester Regeneration Skills Academy, and Greater Manchester's Commitment to Gender Equality in Sport.