The Hackney Procurement Board met on 8 July 2025 to discuss several contracts and frameworks, including those for merchant services, tenant and leaseholder advisors, park depot refurbishments, adult skills, and disabled adaptations. The board, chaired by Rotimi Ajilore, Assistant Director Procurement & energy Services, was scheduled to review the minutes from the previous meeting and an action tracker, before moving on to consider the key decisions.

Contract Awards and Frameworks

• Merchant Service Payment Provider: The board was to consider authorising a direct award of a contract for merchant bank services to Supplier A, the top-ranked supplier on the Financial Services and Payments Framework. The Merchant Service Payment Provider Contract Award Report noted that Supplier A would provide face-to-face and Card Not Present (CNP) card acquiring, gateway and APM Services. The proposed contract aimed to ensure business continuity and enhanced value, with projected cost reductions of £131,000 a year.

• Independent Tenant and Leaseholder Advisors (ITLA) Framework 2025: The board was to discuss the appointment of providers to the ITLA Framework 2025. According to the HPB Contract Award Report - ITLA - Procurement Act 2023 PA2023 - 2025 1, the council requires the services of ITLAs to provide independent advice to tenants and leaseholders involved in housing regeneration projects. The recommendation was to approve the appointment of providers A, B, and C to the framework, with individual call-off contracts awarded through mini-competitions. The total value of the framework would not exceed £2 million over four years. The invitation to tender ITT Independent Tenant and Leaseholder Advisors Framework sets out the requirements for potential providers. The ITLA Low Risk BC TLA FRAMEWORK 2025 business case explains the reasons for the decision. An equalities impact assessment ITLA 2024 was conducted to assess the equalities impacts of the ITLA.

• Park Depot Refurbishment Works: The board was scheduled to consider a contract award for refurbishment works at Clissold Park and Hackney Downs. The HPB Contract Award Report Clissold Park Hackney Downs Park Depot Refurbishments details that the existing park depot facilities are no longer fit for purpose and need to be refurbished to meet the needs of the service, with improved welfare facilities, better storage, and decarbonisation measures. The recommendation was to approve the award of the contract to Supplier A for £1,412,340.72 (inclusive of VAT).

• Adult Skills Framework: The board was to discuss the procurement of an Adult Skills Framework. According to the HPB or Low Risk Business Case Report Template - Procurement Act 2023 PA2023 - 2025 -Employment ski, the aim is to establish a framework of local organisations to deliver high-quality engagement and educational programmes for adults and families in Hackney. The recommendation was to approve the procurement of an Adult Skilled Open Framework agreement for four years, with the option of two additional years.

• Disabled Adaptations and Stair-Lift Contractors: The board was scheduled to discuss the procurement of contractors for disabled adaptations and stair-lift services. The HPB Business Case Report - Disabled Adaptations outlines a strategy to replace the current contract, dividing the contract into two lots: one for disabled adaptations repairs and another for stair-lifts. The recommendation was to approve the procurement of contractors for an initial term of three years, with the possibility of extending for up to two additional years.

Other Business

The agenda also included standard items such as:

• Apologies for absence
• Declarations of interest
• Minutes of the previous meeting, held on 10 June 2025
• Review of action tracker
• HPB Timetable for 2025-2026, listing the meeting schedule to December 2025