The Executive Cabinet of Chorley Council met on 12 December 2024 and made a number of decisions including accepting a grant of £55,000 from the Adult Social Care Transformation Fund, awarding a contract to Inleaf to install a living wall at Chorley) Bus Station and agreeing a strategy for procuring new Christmas lights.

Adult Social Care Transformation Fund

The Director of Communities and Leisure presented a report on the Adult Social Care Transformation Fund.

The meeting heard that the fund seeks to support residents in increasing their independence and well-being. It aims to do this by funding projects that prevent, reduce, or delay the need for formal social care support.

The council agreed to accept £55,000 from the fund. This money would be used to fund a 12-month pilot scheme delivered in partnership with South Ribble Borough Council.

The fund provides the council with the opportunity to build on existing strengths and local infrastructure to deliver a targeted response built around the principles of prevention, early intervention, and independence.

The money will be used to enhance existing social prescribing services by creating a new Adult Social Care Link Worker role. The link worker will provide one-to-one support to individuals, signposting them to appropriate local organisations and community services.

The council will also work with Lancashire County Council to develop a data-driven approach, targeting wards in Chorley that generate a high number of calls to adult social care services. These wards are:

• Chorley Northwest
• Chorley North & Astley
• Clayton East
• Brindle & Hoghton

Christmas Lights Procurement Strategy and Contract Award Delegation

The Director of Planning and Property presented a report on the Christmas Lights Procurement Strategy and Contract Award Delegation.

A key driver in the development of a new Christmas Lights Procurement Strategy is the age and condition of the current Christmas lights infrastructure across the borough.

The meeting heard that Chorley Council is responsible for providing Christmas lights in Chorley, Adlington, Coppull and Withnell. The current Christmas lights infrastructure in the borough is aging and in need of replacement.

It was agreed that the council would procure new Christmas lights and that the Executive Member for Economic Development and Public Service Reform would be delegated to make the final decision on which supplier to award the contract to.

The new strategy sets out a number of objectives for the procurement of new Christmas lights, including:

• Ensuring that the Christmas lights are of a high quality and are in keeping with the character of the borough.
• Ensuring that the Christmas lights are installed and maintained to a high standard.
• Getting value for money for the council.

Finance System Contract Award

The Director of Finance presented a report on the proposed award of a contract for the provision of a new finance system.

The existing FMS [Financial Management System] is now over 20 years old. Although it is still functional and fit for purpose it is in effect obsolete and no longer supported by the supplier. This means that the system is increasingly vulnerable to cyber security risks and other technical issues.

It was explained that the council's current finance system is no longer supported by the supplier and is therefore vulnerable to cyber security risks.

It was agreed to award a 10-year contract for the provision of a new finance system to a company called Unit4.

Food Waste Caddies Joint Procurement

The Director of Customer and Digital presented a report on the procurement of food waste caddies.

Following the introduction of weekly food waste collections in September 2022, the Council is proposing to undertake a joint procurement exercise with Blackpool Council and Lancaster City Council for the supply and delivery of food waste caddies.

It was explained that the council needs to procure new food waste caddies and that a joint procurement exercise with Blackpool Council and Lancaster City Council had been undertaken.

It was agreed to award the contract for the supply and delivery of food waste caddies to a company called Cromwell Polythene.