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:

·     the undertaking of a procurement exercise through a compliant framework or Dynamic Purchasing System, including a mini-competition or direct award where appropriate (on an ‘open book’ basis), for the supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance of up to four Solar EV Charging Hubs at council-owned sites, with an estimated contract value of £846,808 funded through CRSTS and Invest to Save funding.

The Reasons are:

To enable the delivery of the Solar EV Charging Hub Pilot, maximise the use of the remaining CRSTS Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure allocation, secure best value through a compliant procurement process, and support the Council's climate change, decarbonisation and sustainable transport objectives.

Options considered and rejected were:

Alternative options for utilising the remaining CRSTS allocation were considered, including other forms of EV charging infrastructure. Solar EV Charging Hubs were identified as the preferred intervention because they combine renewable energy generation with EV charging infrastructure, can reduce reliance on grid upgrades, provide publicly accessible charging facilities and generate evidence to inform future investment decisions.

Key decision: YES.

Assessment of Risk:

Medium. Risks include procurement delays, site-specific constraints, supplier availability, technology performance and lower than expected utilisation. These risks will be managed through robust procurement, project governance, site assessments, stakeholder engagement and contract management arrangements.

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

The Solar EV Charging Hub Pilot represents an innovative approach to delivering Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure by combining solar photovoltaic generation and EV charging facilities within a single modular solution. The project will test an emerging technology that has the potential to reduce reliance on grid upgrades, minimise installation timescales and improve the efficiency of infrastructure delivery compared to more traditional charging solutions.

The proposed procurement will ensure that the Council secures best value through a competitive process, enabling the market to demonstrate how it can meet the Council’s requirements while delivering value for money, quality and social value outcomes. The project will also provide valuable operational and commercial data to inform future investment decisions, business cases and the potential wider deployment of Solar EV Charging Hubs across the city.

The pilot supports the Council’s commitment to innovation by trialling new approaches to EV charging provision, renewable energy generation and integrated mobility solutions. It will help establish an evidence base for future investment and contribute towards the Council’s climate change, sustainable transport and carbon reduction objectives.

The source of funding and financial advice obtained:

£446,808 from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure allocation and up to £400,000 from Invest To Save funding within the Low Carbon Capital Programme 2026/27.

Legal Advice obtained: Supplied by: Daniel Howard, Principal Lawyer, Legal Services – 0161 600 8733 / date: 29 July 2026

When commissioning contracts for the procurement of goods, services, or the execution of works the Council must comply with the applicable procurement legislation as well as its own Contractual Standing Orders (CSO’s), Financial Regulations and the duties of Best and Social value. In addition, the Act requires that contracting authorities treat candidates equally and in a non-discriminatory way and act in a transparent manner, failing which the award of a contract may be subject to legal challenge.

The report sets out that the Council proposes to undertake a procurement process via either an existing compliant Framework Agreement or Dynamic Purchasing System. Using a compliant framework or dynamic purchasing system will give some comfort to the Council in ensuring that value for money is being obtained and periodically tested, with competition maintained. The carrying out of this procurement exercise in accordance with the terms of the applicable framework or DPS will ensure that the risk of challenge to the award of the contract to the selected contractor is minimal and that any challenge, should it materialise, is unlikely to be successful.

Procurement Advice obtained: Supplied by Daniel Cunliffe, Category Manager, 0161 686 6249

The procurement activity will use a suitable framework to source this work. A number of DPS agreements by different contracting authorities that we can utilise, we are reviewing the options that are best suited for SCC. The DPS process is in line with the Procurement Act 2023/Public Contract Regulations 2015 and SCC governance procedures.

Financial advice obtained: Supplied by: Ian Cowburn, Senior Accountant

Date provided: 30/07/2026 – Expenditure Code: A10310/D07188

a) Source of Funding:

i. CRSTS: GMCA has allocated £7.55M of CRSTS funding across the 10 GM authorities as part of the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure initiative. Salford’s allocation is £708,208, of which £146,000 has already been drawn down, leaving £562,208 funding available. £446,808 of this will be used as a contribution to the cost of the proposed solar hubs.

ii. Invest to Save: The £400,000 balance of the proposed contract will come from Invest To Save funding within the Low Carbon Capital Programme 2026/27.

b) Financial Implications:

This is a request for approval to go out to tender for the delivery of four solar EV charging hubs. This will be funded in part by CRSTS grant provided to us from the DfT via GMCA, with the remainder coming from Invest To Save funding within the Low Carbon Capital Programme 2026/27.

The CRSTS grant is subject to GMCA approval of SCC’s Strategic Outline Business Case, the procurement process is required for the Business Case. There is a potential financial risk associated with the CRSTS grant as the grant conditions require that funds are committed by March 2027.

The solar hubs are expected to generate income from their use by the public, it is also anticipated that the hubs will provide a cheaper source of electricity for council-owned vehicles.

HR Advice obtained: N/A.

Climate Change Implications obtained:

The GM 5 Year Environment Plan commits GM to increasing local renewable energy generation by at least 375MW by 2030 and increasing the uptake of active travel and Electric Vehicles solutions.

This pilot project represents an innovative approach that could be scaled and adopted by SCC and other authorities. SCC already has a substantial portfolio of renewable generation assets, and this project aims to vary the type and usage of renewable generation.

While one of the primary drivers for this pilot is the increased use of EV charging there is the potential for income, reduced electricity costs and the project reduce SCC’s carbon emissions.This approach will enhance energy resilience, improve financial efficiency, and contribute to the Council’s broader carbon neutrality.

The following documents have been used to assist the decision process:

·     Procurement Board Report – Approval to go out to tender for Solar EV Charging Hubs under the CRSTS EVCI Programme.

Contact Officer: Lee Evans Lee.Evans@salford.gov.uk

Signed:    Cllr Cusack        Dated:   24 August 2026.

             Lead Member

FOR DEMOCRATIC SERVICES USE ONLY:

·     This decision was published on 25 August 2026.

·     This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 2 September 2026 unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Procedure Rules.