The Cabinet meeting on 8 July 2026 saw a range of key decisions made, including the approval of additional funding for the Prestwich Village Regeneration Project, the disposal of Pyramid Park and Q-Park for residential development, and the recommissioning of the Alternative Provision service for children and young people. The Cabinet also noted updates on the Council's financial outturn for 2025/26 and the outcome of the CQC's assessment of Adult Social Care services.

Prestwich Village Regeneration Project: Additional Funding Request

Cabinet approved an additional £153,009.00 in capital funding to ensure the full delivery of Phase 1A of the Prestwich Village Regeneration Project, specifically the Travel Hub. This funding is required to cover late-identified works related to planning pre-commencement conditions, building control requirements, and increased costs for parking control equipment. While the majority of the Travel Hub's £14 million cost will be met by external grant funding from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), the additional works will be funded from the Council's Capital Programme. This decision ensures the Travel Hub can operate without undue delay upon its expected completion in Summer 2026.

Disposal of Pyramid Park and Q-Park

The Cabinet approved the disposal of the council-owned sites at Pyramid Park and Q-Park to Watson Construction Ltd for residential development. This decision is crucial for accelerating the delivery of much-needed homes across the borough and aligns with the council's brownfield-first approach to housing. The disposal of these sites will generate a capital receipt for the council and reduce the revenue costs associated with maintaining these long-term vacant town centre sites. The remediation of Pyramid Park, in particular, is vital to meet grant funding milestones and unlock the site for future development.

Alternative Provision Recommissioning

A decision was made to recommission Bury's Alternative Provision (AP) offer for children and young people. This involves a short-term extension of existing contractual arrangements until 31 March 2027 to ensure continuity of service while a full review and recommissioning process is undertaken. During this extension period, preliminary market engagement will assess the current service model and market capacity. The subsequent procurement will establish a four-year AP framework, aiming to provide a more sustainable, responsive, and high-quality AP system that aligns with local needs and national reforms.

Finance Update Report - 2025/26 Outturn Position

The Cabinet noted the council's final outturn position for the 2025/26 financial year. The General Fund revenue budget reported an overspend of £7.266 million, which was offset by a drawdown from the budget stabilisation reserve. This drawdown has significantly reduced reserve levels, highlighting the need for sustainable financial management and the delivery of planned savings. The capital programme reported a slippage of £17.336 million, which will be carried forward into the 2026/27 financial year, subject to a review of deliverability. The report also provided outturn positions for the Collection Fund, Housing Revenue Account (HRA), and Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).

Outcome of CQC Local Authority Assessment of Adult Social Care

The Cabinet noted the outcome of the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) assessment of Bury Council's adult social care responsibilities. The overall assessment rated Bury's adult social care services as GOOD, highlighting strengths in leadership, safeguarding, partnership working, and a clear strategic vision. While the report identified areas for improvement, such as timeliness of assessments, support for carers, and consistency of experience, the council stated that these were already recognised and being addressed through existing improvement plans.

Other Decisions

The Cabinet also approved recommendations related to:

• Alternative Provision: Recommendations were approved to recommission Bury's Alternative Provision offer, including a short-term extension of existing contracts and the commencement of a tender process for a new four-year framework.
• Bury's Local Area SEND Monitoring Inspection: The Cabinet noted the outcome of the monitoring inspection by Ofsted and the CQC, which concluded that effective action has been taken across all six priority areas identified in the previous inspection.
• Economic Development & Regeneration Grant Funding: Cabinet members noted the update on the Local Growth and Place Flexible Grant programme and approved the proposals submitted for the Economic Development & Regeneration Grant Funding for 2026/27. Powers were delegated to the Executive Director of Place to make changes to the programme as issues arise.
• Pyramid Park - Remediation Main Works Contract: Cabinet authorised the council to appoint Conlon Construction Limited as the main contractor for the Pyramid Park Remediation Main Works, up to a total contract value of £1,554,000.00. This decision is crucial for unlocking the site for future residential development and ensuring compliance with grant funding agreements.
• Advocacy Contract Extension & Tender - Part A: Approval was sought for a three-month extension to the current advocacy contract and authorisation to commence a tender process for a new four-year contract, with the option to extend for a further 12 months.
• Corporate Plan Quarter Four 2025-26 Performance & Delivery: The Cabinet noted the Quarter Four position on progress against the Corporate Plan for 2025/26.
• Adult Social Care Performance Report for Quarter Four, 2025/26: The Cabinet noted the performance report for the final quarter of the financial year.
• HRA Capital Investment Programme 2026.2027 Major Refurbishment Works - Heating and Hot Water: Approval was sought for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Works Programme for 2026/27 and a budget of £2,015,000 for Major Refurbishment Works - Heating and Hot Water.
• Contract Awards in Respect of the HRA Capital Investment Programme 2026/27 and Carbon Reduction - Sustainability Improvement Measures: Approval was sought for contractor appointments and contract extensions to deliver the Council's 2026/27 housing retrofit and carbon reduction programme.
• A Bed Every Night (ABEN): Permission was sought for the Council to extend the current A Bed Every Night (ABEN) contract for a further period of 12 months while the service re-procures the ABEN provision.
• Care at Home - Request to Delegate the Authority to Contract Awards: Authority was delegated to the Director of Adult Social Services and Community Commissioning and the Executive Director of Health and Adult Care for contract awards related to the Care at Home service.
• Award of EVCI GM Contract to Install EV Chargepoints Throughout Bury: The Cabinet agreed that TfGM, on behalf of Bury Metropolitan Borough Council, could proceed to award the contract for the installation of electric vehicle chargepoints.
• Approval of Accepting the Department for Transport Grant for the Development of the 15112 Bury to Bolton Active Travel Corridor Scheme (Spenfold Lane Bridleway) with Approval to Award the Delivery Contract: Approval was given to accept a grant from the Department for Transport for the Bury to Bolton Active Travel Corridor Scheme and to award the delivery contract.
• Finance Q1: The Cabinet noted the forecast Quarter 1 position for the council's revenue and capital budgets, HRA, and DSG.
• 2025/26 Treasury Outturn Report: The Cabinet noted and approved the Treasury Management 2025/26 Outturn Report and the 2025/26 Prudential and Treasury Indicators for submission to Council.
• Minutes of Association of Greater Manchester Authorities / Greater Manchester Combined Authority: The minutes of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority meeting held on 26 June 2026 were noted.