Purpose

To ensure the continued delivery of a data analytics dashboard for local authorities that brings together datasets for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, and related records to build a monthly, picture of low-income households. This is used to identify benefits households are entitled to but not receiving, target preventative interventions, and provide a strategic evidence base on deprivation, debt and welfare reforms at a ward and household level.

Decision

Approval to award a contract to Policy in Practice for the provision of their LIFT Dashboard, following a direct award under the G-Cloud 14 Framework. The total contract value is £594,150, covering a term of three years. Funding will be provided through the Government’s Crisis & Resilience Fund (Crisis and Resilience Fund: Guidance for local authorities in England, 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029).  No income is generated directly from this decision.

Reasons for the decision

The initial two year contract period for the LIFT Dashboard has seen £2million of additional income generated for low-income residents (the majority of which is annually recurring). The current contract expires on 31 October 2026.

The Business Area, working with Procurement, identified the G-Cloud 14 Framework as the most appropriate and compliant route to award the contract to Policy in Practice.

Alternative options considered

• In‑house delivery: Rejected as the Council does not have the capacity or systems in place to deliver a local solution within the required timeframe.
• Allowing the contract to lapse: Rejected as this would prevent residents from being supported to access benefits and support they are entitled to, at a time of increasing cost of living pressures.