Search decisions

To approve an additional appointment at a cost of up to £100,000+VAT (£120,000 inclusive of
VAT) for Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) to support the procurement of an Oldham Green New
Deal Partner. This appointment will be fully funded from the Council’s Green Heat Network Fund
Commercialisation grant.

RESOLVED - That:

Option 1 (Preferred Option) – approve the additional appointment. Under this option, the extra
WBD scope required for the project will be secured, maximising the probability of a successful
project.

Decision A: To seek an exemption under rule 21 of the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules (CPRs) in respect of the procurement procedures which must be followed under rule 4 of the CPRs, based on contract value.

Decision B: Subject to the approval of the exemption request under Decision A, to approve a direct award of a 6 month contract of the RSI Navigator services to the Sanctuary Trust for a total contract fee of £25,614 (exclusive of VAT)

The most recent contract for the provision of the RSI Navigator Services followed a competitive tender process. The contract was awarded to the Sanctuary Trust for a term commencing on 1st April 2023 and expiring on 31st March 2025. The contract value was £48,260* for 2023/24 and £49,588* for 2024/25.

RESOLVED - That:

Decision A: Approve an exemption in respect of rule 4 of the Contract Procurement Rules by utilising rule 21 of the CPRs, and

Decision B: subject to approval of Decision A, directly award and enter into a 6-month contract to the value of £25,614 with the Sanctuary Trust Limited for the provision of the RSI Navigator services from 1st April to 30th September 2026.

1.1 In March 2025, approval was sought and gained from Cabinet to receive funding from Department of Education and Department of Health &Social Care to deliver the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme. Approval was also sought and gained to delegate authority to agree all spending decisions related to the Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme to the Directors of Education, Skills and Early Years and Public Health after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children & Young People and noting the role of the Family Hub Board

RESOLVED - That:
1.2 As part of Oldham’s commitment to improving outcomes for children and families, breastfeeding is recognised as a cornerstone of early development and maternal wellbeing. Evidence shows that breastfeeding delivers both immediate and long-term health benefits for mother and child, fostering emotional attachment and strengthening family bonds. It also plays a critical role in reducing health inequalities, with recent studies confirming that breastfeeding can lower the likelihood of childhood obesity by up to 25%. This emphasis on breastfeeding supports Oldham’s wider ambition to embed preventative approaches, promote equity, and ensure every child has the best start in life. The additional 0.6 FTE Health Visitor capacity will strengthen our reach, ensuring consistent breastfeeding support and messaging is embedded across more families in our communities. This post will also form an important addition to the establishment of the NCA element of the Integrated Children & Families Service, further enhancing our collective ability to deliver coherent, joined-up early years support.

HomeStart Host Ltd is currently contracted to deliver a variety of specific, targeted services through Oldham’s Family Hubs Offer. These services are fully funded by the Department for Education (DfE) as part of this offer. DfE have just confirmed continued Family Hubs funding for Oldham for an additional 3 years.
To streamline services, avoid any gaps in delivery and ensure the best outcomes for Oldham’s vulnerable families we are seeking to extend the current HomeStart contract up until 30 September 2026 and to use that time to go out to the market with a full, transparent competitive tender for one provider to deliver a variety of Family Hub services from 1 October 2026 up until 30 September 2029.

RESOLVED - That:
• To align and extend the HomeStart Host Family Hubs services outlined in this report up until 30 September 2026. This will prevent any gaps in service delivery and ensure retention of experienced, skilled staff and volunteers to deliver Oldham based services and achieve outcomes for residents.