Decision Maker:

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: February 23, 2026

Purpose:

Content: Salford City Council – Record of Decision   Governance 360: Additional Resources/ Commissioning of Interim Governance Capacity   I, Councillor Jack Youd, Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for Finance, Support Services and Regeneration, having considered the recommendation of the Procurement Board, and in exercise of the powers contained within the Council’s Constitution, do hereby approve the following:   1.     Authority is granted to proceed with the commissioning of interim governance capacity required to deliver the Governance 360 programme, within a capped budget envelope of up to £320,000 (exclusive of VAT). 2.     The proposed procurement route via the GM Collaboration Framework is approved as a compliant and proportionate route to market. 3.     Following Procurement Board consideration, authority is delegated to the City Solicitor (Monitoring Officer) to: o   engage an approved supplier under the framework; o   finalise contractual arrangements; and o   make the necessary interim appointments in line with the approved budget envelope and business case.   The Reasons are: The Council is delivering Governance 360, a time?critical corporate improvement programme to strengthen constitutional arrangements, scrutiny, committee effectiveness, governance assurance and support for elected Members. Temporary specialist governance capacity is required to protect statutory governance delivery, maintain decision?making assurance, and ensure the timely delivery of programme milestones during a period of workforce transition. The use of an approved framework provides a compliant, proportionate and timely route to market and supports value for money.   Options considered and rejected were: ·     Do nothing: Rejected due to the material risk to statutory committee cycles, governance assurance and the delivery of the Governance 360 programme. ·     Permanent recruitment: Rejected as it would not provide the required flexibility or pace and would create longer?term commitments that are not proportionate to the time?limited nature of the programme.   Assessment of Risk: If the decision were not approved, there would be increased risk of: ·     delay to the Governance 360 programme; ·     reduced governance and decision?making assurance; ·     pressure on statutory committee cycles; and ·     increased cost and delivery risk associated with re?entering a constrained interim market.   These risks are mitigated through a capped spending envelope, use of an approved procurement framework, time?limited commissioning, and oversight by the Monitoring Officer.   The source of funding is: The commissioning will be funded from the Governance 360 programme budget. The £320,000 figure represents a maximum spending envelope, not a fixed commitment. VAT will be paid in?year and reclaimed corporately and does not increase the net budget requirement.   Legal Advice obtained: Legal advice has been obtained confirming that the decision is consistent with the Council’s Constitution, including the Contract Procedure Rules, and that the proposed delegation to the City Solicitor (Monitoring Officer) is lawful and appropriate.   Financial Advice obtained: Financial advice has been obtained confirming there is budget available within Legal and Governance resources to fund the cost of the additional capacity needed to deliver the programme to up £320,000.   Interim support will protect statutory delivery, maintain decision?making assurance, and allow the Governance 360 programme to proceed without displacing core business.   Procurement Advice obtained: Procurement advice has been obtained confirming that the GM Collaboration Framework provides a compliant and proportionate route to market and supports timely mobilisation.   HR Advice obtained: No permanent establishment changes arise. Interim workers will be engaged through the approved framework and supported with: induction and supervision; confidentiality/ information governance assurance; health and safety arrangements; clear reporting lines and role boundaries; performance management; and knowledge-transfer expectations.   Climate Change Implications obtained: No direct environmental impact has been identified. Opportunities to minimise unnecessary travel or printing will be encouraged during delivery.   The following documents have been used to assist the decision process: ·     Governance 360 – Approval to Commission Interim Governance Capacity (Part 1 – Public) ·     Governance 360 – Interim Governance Capacity Business Case (Part 2 – Exempt) (This document contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of the Council and other parties and is exempt from public inspection under Schedule 12A, paragraph 3 of the Local Government Act 1972.)   Contact Officer: Christian Scade, Head of Governance Contact via: 07731 802243 or christian.scade@salford.gov.uk   ·     This matter is not a key decision. ·     This matter is not subject to consideration by another Lead Member. ·     The appropriate Scrutiny Committee to call-in the decision is the Overview and Scrutiny Board.               .   Signed:    Cllr J Youd         Dated:   23 February 2026.              Lead Member   FOR DEMOCRATIC SERVICES USE ONLY:   *         This decision was published on 24 February 2026 *         This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 3 March 2026 unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.