The Hackney Procurement Board met on 10 June 2025 to discuss a range of procurement matters, including contracts for penalty charge notice enforcement, employer's agent services for the New Homes Programme, and electrical testing. The board, chaired by Rotimi Ajilore, Assistant Director Procurement & Energy Services, was scheduled to consider reports and make key decisions related to these services. This was not a public meeting, but notifications of decisions taken were expected to be published on the council's website.

PCN Enforcement Agent Services

The Hackney Procurement Board was scheduled to discuss the procurement of services for recovering outstanding payments related to Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs). The council was considering using a YPO Framework to engage multiple enforcement agencies and debt collection agencies for a four-year term, with an option to extend for a further year.

The report pack noted that the council aims to:

maximise income, reduce the costs of collection, and retain a provision of quality service. Enforcement action through bailiffs provides a source of revenue for the Council and acts as a deterrent against persistent penalty charge evaders.

The previous average annual income recovered was around £1,000,000, and an increase is expected with the new model estimated at £1.3m per annum.

The proposed contract was intended to support several council initiatives, including the Mayor's Transport Strategy and the council's Parking Enforcement Plan 2022–2027, by deterring illegal and unsafe parking behaviours. The report pack also stated that the contract would contribute to improving air quality in the borough through ISO14001 certification requirements for all suppliers.

New Homes Programme Employer's Agent

The Hackney Procurement Board was scheduled to discuss awarding a contract for Employer's Agent services for the New Homes Programme (NHP) in the south of the borough. The services include Employer's Agent and Contract Administrator functions, along with construction stage project co-ordination for nine council-led housing developments.

The report pack noted that Hackney's Strategic Plan 2022-2026 sets out a commitment to deliver 1,000 new social rented homes for Hackney residents, and the New Homes Programme is a key part of this.

The report pack stated that the Employer's Agent service acts as the council's agent and representative at the construction and completion stages and provides a formal Contract Administration role to the construction contracts.

The nine housing development projects that were scheduled to be discussed were:

• NHP1.1 Broadway, RIBA Stage 3, Haggerston, 85 new homes
• NHP1.2 Regents Court, RIBA Stage 3, London Fields, 38 new homes
• NHP2.1 Cropley Court, RIBA Stage 3, Hoxton West, 45 new homes
• NHP2.2 Buckland Court, RIBA Stage 3, 45 new homes
• NHP3.1 Fellows Court, Planning, Haggerston, 28 new homes
• NHP3.2 Weymouth Court, Planning, 18 new homes
• NHP4.1 Wayman Court, RIBA Stage 2, Hackney Central, 23 new homes
• NHP4.3 Cherbury Court, RIBA Stage 1, Hoxton West, 16 new homes
• NHP9 Blandford Court, RIBA Stage 2, De Beauvoir, 13 new homes

The report pack stated that the selected consultant has demonstrated comprehensive expertise and a track record of delivery, relevant to the NHP sustainability requirements.

Electrical Testing Business Case

The Hackney Procurement Board was scheduled to discuss a business case for domestic electrical testing and inspections. The council was considering procuring these services through an external framework to address a backlog of approximately 15,000 electrical inspections that require action.

The report pack noted that in 2024, Hackney Council self-referred to the Housing Regulator regarding consumer standards related to compliance, particularly concerning the electrical testing programme. The council made a commitment to improve the performance of the electrical testing program, where there had been a significant drop in compliance following a move from a 10-year program to a 5-year program.

The council's Direct Labour Organisation (DLO) currently undertakes around 1,300 electrical tests per year, which is enough to maintain the program but does not allow for recovery to address the backlog. The proposed plan involves increasing the DLO allocation to around 7,000 tests and allocating 9,200 tests to an external provider, with both programs running concurrently over a two-year period.

The report pack stated that upon completion of this project, the aim is to return the electrical testing and inspection program back to the DLO, who will be in a position to undertake this wholly without any additional contractor support.