URL: https://councildecisions.bury.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=4270

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: The Cabinet Member for Communities and Inclusion presented a report regarding a commissioning exercise to secure refreshed Safe Accommodation provision up to March 2028, as part of Bury’s Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Strategy approved by Cabinet in April. The Strategy had informed the Council’s commissioning intentions to secure future provision based on local insight The Social Value Strategy allowed for this, to influence those responsible for the procurement.   In response to Members’ questions, it was noted that, in awarding contracts like this, it was crucial that the organisation was in-line with the Council’s principles. A number of deliverables were set out in the management agreement with Safenet, and quality would be assessed though regular monitoring.   Decision: Cabinet: 1.    Approved the award of Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation provision to Safenet for a two year & five month term with a total contract value of £917,935 (£379,835 x 2 years + 5/12 taking to end of March 2028) following a competitive tender process; and 2.    Approved the award of core IDVA provision to Safenet for a two year & five month term with a total contract value of £724,635 (£299,849 x 2 years + 5/12 taking to end of March 2028) following a competitive tender process.   Reasons for the decision: ·         The Safe Accommodation strategy delivers on a statutory requirement within the Domestic Abuse Bill to review and ensure provision to meet local need. This contract award is secures provision to meet such requirements, having undertaken a competitive process to source a provider. ·         A competitive tendering process under the Procurement Act 2023 was advertised with multiple applications received across the two contracts which were assessed and moderated to determine the most advantageous tender.   Alternative options considered and rejected: ·         Do nothing – this was not a viable option given the requirement to deliver against the Domestic Abuse Bill and given that existing contracts were coming to an end. ·         Deliver in-house – this was not a viable option given the specialist nature of support and in particular for the IDVA roles the need for independence. ·         Extend existing contracts – this was rejected in order to meet procurement guidelines and to not run an exercise with an updated approach would fail to capitalise on the journey made in recent years but more importantly miss the opportunity to further tailor and target the focus of such support provision.

Date of Decision: November 5, 2025