Decision

Salford City Council – Record of Decision

I (Councillor Cusack, Lead Member for Corporate Services and Chairman of the Procurement Board), accept the recommendation of the Procurement Board and in exercise of the powers contained within the Council Constitution do hereby:

• approve and award the Contract for the continued use of the Line of Business System for Planning, Building Control and Local Land and Property Gazetteer, as detailed in the table below:

Detail required

Answers

Title/Description of Contracted Service/Supply/Project

Arcus Built Environment Solution for Planning, Building Control and Local Land and Property Gazetteer services

Procurement Reference numbers (DN and CR number supplied by Procurement)

S1528

Name of Successful Contractor

Arcus Global Limited

Supplier Registration Number

06946606

Supplier Identifier Reference

(Central Digital Platform FTS) for awards above £30,000 (inc VAT)

PRWV-8165-MVWQ

Proclass Classification No.

(to be completed by procurement)

271430

Type of organisation

Private Limited Company

Status of Organisation

Non-SME

Contract Value (£)

£85,554.40 per annum

Total contract value £ (including extensions)

£342,217.60 total project value

Contract Duration

48 months

Contract Start Date

01/11/2026

Contract End Date

31/10/2030

Optional Extension Period 1

N/A

Optional Extension Period 2

N/A

Who will approve each Extension Period?

Executive Director (extension < £150k)

Contact Officer (Name & number)

Lead Service Group

Place

How the contract was procured?

(to be supplied by procurement)

Direct Award/ Call off

Procurement Legislation

PCR 2015

Framework Details (where applicable)

(procurement body, framework reference & title, start/ end date

G-Cloud 14/15 Framework

Funding Source

Revenue Budget

Ethical Contractor (EC): Mayor’s Employment Charter

No

EC: Committed to sign The Mayor’s Employment Charter

No

EC: Committed to the principles outlined in the Mayor’s Employment charter

No

EC: Accredited Living Wage Employer

Yes

EC: Committed to becoming Accredited Living wage Employer

N/A

?

The Reasons are:

In 2021 and 2022 a full market review of the software systems available for Planning (Development Management), Building Control and the Local Land and Property Gazetteer was carried out.  Arcus Global Limited was identified as the preferred supplier, and a 4-year contract was awarded to them following approval by Procurement Board in October 2022.  The implementation project extended over two years.

The system provides the necessary functionality to deliver statutory functions and all services are happy with the current system.  As such, a further review of the market is not considered necessary or practical so soon after a major system change.  The existing contract expires on 31 October 2026 and the annual cost increase of the contract, when compared to the existing contract, equates to 1.82% (i.e. below inflation).

Options considered and rejected were:

No other options were considered.

Assessment of Risk:

Without the ongoing use of the Arcus system, the services would not be able to deliver their statutory functions.

Innovate/ Best Value – identify the relevant corporate priorities specific to Salford:

The Arcus Built Environment platform supports the delivery of several Council priorities, strategies and statutory functions. The system underpins the Council's Planning, Building Control and Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) services, enabling efficient service delivery, regulatory compliance, data management and public access to services.

The solution contributes directly to the Council's Corporate Plan priorities, particularly:

• Good Growth
• A Good Home for All
• Tackling Poverty and Inequality
• Creating Places Where People Want to Live
• Responding to Climate Change

By supporting the effective operation of planning and development management, building control, housing growth, regeneration and place-shaping activities across the city.

The platform also supports the Place Portfolio Team Business Plan 2026-2028, which identifies Arcus Built Environment as a core strategic application supporting Planning & Building Control, Regeneration & Development and Corporate GIS services. The system is a key enabler for regulatory compliance, digital service delivery, process efficiency and data-driven decision making.

Recent projects include:

- Enhancements to ensure Salford's compliance with the Building Safety Regulator Reform - 2025

- Implementation of the Salford Design Review Forum in planning - September 2025

- Implementation of the Building Safety Levy - delivery October 2026

In addition, the system supports the Council's digital transformation objectives and aligns with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Digital Planning Programme, helping the Council adopt modern planning processes, digital standards and improved public access to planning services.

The source of funding and financial advice obtained:

Adam Flaherty (senior accountant)

Date: 02.09.2026

Comment:  the proposal is low-risk and financially justifiable, funded from the annual revenue budget. The Council would commit to a £342,217.60 revenue expenditure over four years, representing an annual cost of £85,554.40, with a below-inflation increase of 1.82%. The recommendation avoids the considerably higher costs and risks associated with replacing a recently implemented business-critical system while ensuring continuity of statutory Planning, Building Control and LLPG services.

Legal Advice obtained:

Procurement Advice obtained:

Shared Legal Service (Lauren Armstrong):

Date 04.09.2026

This report seeks approval to direct award to the incumbent provider (Arcus Global Limited) a further contract to enable the service to continue accessing the Arcus Built Environment Solution for Planning, Building Control and Local Land and Property Gazetteer services. G Cloud is a PCR compliant framework (and can therefore be used by the Council in compliance with its internal Contractual Standing Orders, in place of running its own competitive exercise). However, it should be noted that this framework is due to expire shortly and all contracts must be entered into by 28th October 2026 in order to call off under it.

G Cloud 14 allows for direct award. The Council must comply with the rules of the framework when calling off, including using the G-Cloud form of call-off terms. Legal is able to support officers with the finalisation and execution of the call-off contract with Arcus.

HR Advice obtained:

Liam Robinson (HR and OD Consultant)

Date: 07.09.26

No Direct HR implications with the extension of the current contract. HR supports the extension to allow for the continuation of a recognised and familiar system.

Climate Change Implications obtained:

Michael Hemingway (Team Leader Environmental Policy)

Date: 01.09.26

As a technology company, the most significant aspects of Arcus Global’s carbon footprint relates to the greenhouse gas emissions from hosting infrastructure and energy used in their offices. Consequently they have leased a Head Office rated “excellent” by BREAAM. Perhaps more importantly their systems and services which are run on Salesforce hosting infrastructure has been fully carbon-neutral cloud since 2017.

The Cloud based nature of the solution proposed by Arcus should be less vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather events such has flood or heat events. 

Contact Details:

• Contact Officer: Anthony Stephenson
• Telephone number: 0161 521 9377

• This matter is not subject to consideration by another Lead Member.
• The appropriate Scrutiny Committee to call-in the decision is the Growth and Prosperity.

Signed: Councillor Phil Cusack     Dated: 21 September 2026.

               Lead Member

FOR DEMOCRATIC SERVICES USE ONLY:

• This decision was published on 21 September 2026.
• This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 28 September 2026, unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Procedure Rules.