The Hackney Procurement Board met on Wednesday 22 July 2026, approving significant expenditure on passenger transport for vulnerable individuals, housing support services, and accommodation for young people at risk of custody. The board also agreed to a new contract for corporate water supply.

Passenger Transport Framework for SEND, Looked After Children, and Vulnerable Adults

The board approved the procurement of a Passenger Transport Framework with an estimated maximum value of £24 million (including VAT) over four years. This framework will ensure the continued provision of safe and efficient transport for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), looked after children, and vulnerable adults, fulfilling the council's statutory duties under the Education Act 1996 and the Care Act 2014. The new framework aims to improve value for money by managing a capped number of providers, fostering healthier competition, and allowing for ongoing mini-competitions for individual routes. The procurement process will prioritise the quality of service, with environmental sustainability and social value accounting for 20% of the evaluation criteria.

Floating Housing Support Service

A contract for a Floating Housing Support Service was approved with a total value of up to £1,932,000 (excluding VAT) over a maximum of seven years. This service will support residents with long-term mental health conditions, learning disabilities, and autism, as well as young people transitioning from care. The redesigned service specification includes enhanced requirements for sensory-informed environments and support for neurodiverse individuals. This procurement is part of a wider programme to improve outcomes for service users and achieve efficiency savings by insourcing certain elements of the existing service. The contract will mandate the London Living Wage for all staff and will be monitored for social value benefits, including local employment and community engagement.

London Accommodation Pathfinder (LAP) Contract Award

The board approved the contract award for the London Accommodation Pathfinder (LAP) block contract to Provider A. This multi-borough initiative, led by the London Borough of Camden, provides accommodation and support for boys aged 16 and 17 who are at risk of entering the youth justice system. Hackney's maximum contribution and void liability over the five-year contract (3+2 years) is capped at £431,000. The LAP aims to reduce the over-representation of Black and Global Majority young people in custody by offering a trauma-informed alternative. The new contract includes enhanced social value commitments, such as paid work experience for LAP children and advertising all vacancies through participating authorities' employment brokerage services.

Corporate Water Supply Contract

The award of a Corporate Water Supply contract to Supplier A was approved for an estimated total value of £1.5 million (excluding VAT) over a maximum of two years (1+1 years). This contract will provide water and wastewater retail services across the council's estate, ensuring continuity of service and supporting the council's sustainability and carbon reduction objectives. The procurement was conducted via the LASER framework, which was identified as the most suitable option after benchmarking against other frameworks. The contract includes key performance indicators for invoice accuracy, query resolution, and water efficiency, alongside social value commitments such as donating laptops to local schools and providing careers education.