Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Operations is attached.

The Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Operations presented a report seeking approval to proceed with the re?procurement of the Council’s Highways Framework in accordance with the requirements of the Procurement Act 2023.

Cabinet was advised that the existing Highways Framework has successfully supported the delivery of a broad range of highways services, including minor civils works and highway structures, and has enabled both planned and reactive works to be delivered efficiently using established suppliers. The new framework would expand its scope to include additional Lots covering all highways?related disciplines, with multiple suppliers appointed per Lot to ensure service continuity. It would also place a stronger emphasis on social value outcomes and SME participation.

The framework is projected to represent an estimated £60 million of spend over its term, although actual expenditure will depend on the availability of budgets, capital investment programmes and any additional funding secured. A Planned Procurement Notice was issued in December 2025 to alert the market in advance of the tender. The procurement process is scheduled to conclude in June–July 2026, after which a further report will be presented to Cabinet with an Award Report providing full audit assurance before contracts are let.

Cabinet noted that the re?procurement exercise is required to ensure compliance with statutory duties under both the Procurement Act 2023 and the Highways Act 1980, and to avoid risks to service continuity. The alternative option of utilising external frameworks was rejected due to the typical application of management fees of around 1%, which would equate to an estimated £600,000 over the projected framework value.

Decision:
Cabinet:

1.    Approved to precede with the re-procurement exercise

Reasons for recommendation(s):

To maintain compliance with statutory obligations of the Procurement Act 2023.

Alternative options considered and rejected:

Use Frameworks to source Bury’s requirements Rejected: Framework providers typically apply a minimum 1% management fee. On a projected framework value of £60 million, this would amount to approximately £600,000, a cost the Council would avoid by delivering the framework directly.