The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday 8 September 2026 to discuss the council's financial performance, the award of a contract for electric vehicle charging points, and treasury management outturn. Key decisions included noting the Q1 finance report, noting the treasury outturn report, and noting the information provided and supporting the recommendations in the EVCI GM contract Part B report.

Finance Q1

The committee reviewed the Quarter 1 Finance Monitoring Report, which detailed the council's financial position at the end of the first quarter. Significant discussion focused on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit, with members being informed about ongoing efforts to increase local provision for Special Educational Needs (SEN) and reduce reliance on expensive out-of-borough placements. The council is investing in building capacity within mainstream schools to accommodate a wider range of needs locally. Members also discussed the increasing demand for SEN support and associated costs, noting that the strategy aims to provide appropriate provision while reducing expenditure on external placements. A new 60-place provision is planned to reduce out-of-borough placements and deliver significant savings.

Concerns were raised about financial pressures within children's services, including costs for fostering and residential care, although some placement costs were beginning to stabilise. The committee heard that two projects are progressing to develop the council's own residential provision, with collaborative work across Greater Manchester underway. However, it was acknowledged that not all children would be suited to internally provided accommodation due to the complexity of some cases.

Discussions also covered project delays and additional costs related to facilities within the Radcliffe Hub development. Officers explained that project costs had been updated to reflect revised assumptions and changing market conditions, with some higher costs being one-off and not impacting long-term revenue budgets. Revisions to the Medium-Term Financial Strategy were also mentioned.

The committee addressed vacancy management and staffing savings, with a query about savings achieved through recruitment delays. Members were informed that critical social care roles would remain a priority, while recruitment to non-critical vacancies might be delayed for financial management purposes. Challenges in recruiting to specialist roles, particularly in legal services and social care, were acknowledged. Jacqui Dennis, the council's monitoring officer, highlighted persistent recruitment difficulties across various professional disciplines, necessitating the continued use of agency and temporary resources in some areas.

Councillor Birchmore raised concerns about Housing Revenue Account (HRA) procurement processes and delays in repairs and maintenance, referencing resident feedback. Members were assured that procurement arrangements had improved, with stronger contract management, more accurate contract registers, and greater use of framework agreements for value for money. Neil Kissock highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen procurement processes and improve contract oversight, alongside recruitment for key procurement posts.

The recruitment and retention of social workers were also discussed, with Councillor Pilkington inquiring about improvements to the council's offer compared to neighbouring authorities. The committee learned that enhancements to pay, conditions, and workforce support had led to a more stable workforce and reduced reliance on temporary staff, positively impacting outcomes for children and families.

Further questions were raised regarding the HRA and the potential for bringing more services in-house. Members were advised that this is under consideration as part of wider service reviews, with a separate HRA report to provide further detail. Councillor Chaudhry queried the overspend in corporate printing and postage, which officers attributed to election-related activity and the continued use of physical correspondence. Efforts are underway to increase digital communication and reduce printing and postage costs through an invest-to-save approach.

The committee agreed to note the report.

2025/26 Treasury Outturn Report

The committee reviewed the Treasury Management activity for the first quarter of 2025/26. Councillor Thorpe, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, highlighted the ongoing uncertainty in global financial markets and its potential impact on investment returns and borrowing costs.

Councillor Pilkington inquired about the challenges associated with revenue generation through investment activity. Councillor Thorpe explained that national regulations have tightened significantly regarding borrowing for investment purposes, and the council's focus remains on prudent investment, protecting public funds, and securing appropriate returns without engaging in speculative investments. Neil Kissock added that the council adopts a cautious approach to investment management to avoid increasing its risk profile.

Councillor Birchmore noted that several loans were due to mature and asked about the financial implications of refinancing, including potential budgetary pressures and whether repayment periods would be extended. Neil Kissock explained that the council's borrowing portfolio is largely based on fixed-interest rate loans and that officers continually review market options for refinancing to secure the best outcomes.

Councillor Chaudhry requested further information on non-financial investments, particularly the loans detailed in the report. Councillor Thorpe confirmed that the council had previously provided loan finance to Manchester Airport, which continues to contribute to the council's investment portfolio through dividend income and loan repayments. Neil Kissock clarified that the loan associated with Bruntwood related to the acquisition of the Mill Gate Shopping Centre.

Councillor Rydeheard sought clarification on borrowing repayments and measures to prevent unsustainable increases in borrowing levels. Neil Kissock advised that longer-term financial planning is being developed to ensure sustainable borrowing, with financing costs met through the revenue budget and income from assets contributing to borrowing costs. He also explained the differences between Housing Revenue Account (HRA) borrowing and non-HRA borrowing, noting that HRA borrowing operates under different arrangements and can attract lower costs due to distinct statutory and accounting requirements.

The committee agreed to note the report.

Award of EVCI GM Contract to Install EV Chargepoints Throughout Bury Part A

Councillor Smith, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Operations, presented a report seeking approval for Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to award a 20-year concession contract for the installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints across the borough, supported by government funding.

Councillor Birchmore asked about the comparative cost of public charging versus home charging and suggested exploring shallow-footing gullet chargers for residents without off-street parking. Ben Thomson, Assistant Director of Public Protection, advised that public charging costs would be set at market rates, aiming for affordability, and that pavement charging solutions could be explored as technology develops.

Councillor Southworth queried the controls in place to prevent significant increases in charging costs. Officers confirmed that charging costs would be monitored, and contractual measures would ensure price increases remain reasonable and proportionate.

The committee noted the report.

Award of EVCI GM Contract to Install EV Chargepoints Throughout Bury Part B

The committee considered the Part B report concerning the procurement process and contract award for EV chargepoints. A question was raised about the composition of the assessment panel and due diligence. Officers confirmed that the procurement was managed by TfGM's procurement service, with necessary due diligence and evaluation processes completed.

Councillor Rydeheard sought clarification on the number of organisations involved in the procurement and their assessment. Officers advised that the procurement had been re-evaluated, with four organisations initially involved. Following the final evaluation, the recommended contractor achieved the highest overall ranking and was selected as the preferred bidder.

The committee noted the information provided and supported the recommendations in the Part B report. The update was agreed to be noted.