Issue - meetings

Report of Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing attached.

Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing presented the report which outlined that Bury Council commissions Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH), an NHS provider, to deliver substance use treatment services. Following an exploration of various retender options and productive discussions with neighbouring Local Authorities, including Salford and Trafford Councils, plans are progressing to collaborate and form a cluster to jointly tender for future substance use treatment services under a new long-term contract lasting five years, with the option of a two-year extension. This tender aims to collaboratively commission a partnership model for delivering substance use treatment and recovery services, building on the successes of the current partnership model.

Decision:

The Cabinet:

1.      Agreed for Bury Council to partner with fellow Local Authorities (Salford and Trafford Councils) to deliver joint tender of substance use treatment and recovery services from 1 April 2026 on a long term 5 + 2 year contract.

2.      Agreed for Bury Council to join the open procurement with Salford and Trafford Councils and commission new substance use and recovery services with Salford Council as the lead LA.

Reason for the decision:

Bury Public Health team has considered how best to utilise limited resources, identifying a joint tender with neighbour LAs (Salford and Trafford Councils) as the most viable option. Given that several GM councils are in a similar position and all needing to recommission their services, this approach will ensure that future substance use services provide the best value for money and maintain high quality standards.

It will also optimise the substance use workforce in GM, reduce management overhead costs, and leverage economies of scale by pooling resources by commissioning as a tri-borough cluster.

Joint procurement offers the advantage of benefitting from previous wider market testing, which has already taken place with other GM LAs. Bury Council will also benefit from shared procurement, legal, and commissioning capacity, reducing the financial burden associated with tendering for a new service.

Pooling resources makes this procurement opportunity more appealing to prospective providers, as successful bidders will gain a substantial share of GM areas if successful at the tender.

A joint retender for the substance use contract reduces duplication and administrative overheads, enhancing financial sustainability and delivering better value for money for our residents in Bury and GM.

Coordinated services across the three GM LAs ensure seamless support for service users, minimising disruptions in care and eliminating a postcode lottery with disparities in service provision across GM.

Cluster commissioning enables the development of innovative service models and provides greater adaptability in responding to emerging substance use trends locally.

Would align with current / planned projects and external funding streams, such as OHID grants which we currently deliver with Salford and Trafford Council’s.

Maintains the partnership between partnership authorities (Salford and Trafford) who will also be ending their contract with GMMH on 31/03/2026.This currently allows for economies of scale of work, shared back-office functions and a peer support approach across all organisations involved.

Cluster commissioning model is successfully used for Bury’s Sexual Health  ...  view the full minutes text for item 353