The Hackney Procurement Board met on Tuesday 14 April 2026 to approve a new contract for integrated early pregnancy and infant feeding peer support services and to progress the procurement of new IT systems for parking and markets services. The board also discussed the procurement strategy for public space surveillance and optical fibre cable installation and maintenance, ultimately deferring a decision on this item due to outstanding questions.

Integrated Early Pregnancy and Infant Feeding Peer Support Health

The Board approved the award of a contract for the Integrated Early Pregnancy & Infant Feeding Peer Support Service to the National Childbirth Trust (NCT). This contract, valued at up to £611,000 ex VAT, will run for an initial 21-month term from 1 July 2026 to 31 March 2028, with an option for a further 12-month extension. The service, funded by the Best Start in Life Family Hubs grant, will provide early pregnancy engagement, postnatal ward support, community-based support, and targeted outreach, specifically requiring NCT to subcontract with voluntary sector organisations to reach the Hackney Kurdish, Turkish, and Haredi communities.

During the discussion, concerns were raised about the potential for over-reliance on a single supplier and the long-term procurement strategy for the integrated service, given the time-limited nature of the grant funding. Re'hilah Hamid confirmed that market engagement had been conducted, and while some initial expressions of interest were unsuitable, the market might evolve over the next two years, potentially allowing for a competitive process in the future. The Board also clarified that a three-month extension, mentioned in the legal comments, was included to prevent a gap in service provision.

Public Space Surveillance and Optical Fibre Cable Installation

The Board deferred a decision on the business case for the Public Space Surveillance (PSS) and Optical Fibre Installation and Maintenance contract. The proposed seven-year contract, valued at an estimated £17.1 million (£10m revenue and £7m potential capital expenditure), favoured outsourcing over insourcing. Maurice Mason reported that the Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Regulatory Services, Councillor Susan Fajana-Thomas, and the Director for Environment and Climate Change, Geeta Subramaniam-Mooney, had given in-principle agreement for the outsourcing option.

However, several questions remained outstanding, including whether other London Councils were insourcing similar services and clarification on staffing figures for the insourcing option. Carl Levoir was tasked with writing to the London CCTV User Group to gather information on other boroughs' approaches to CCTV installation and maintenance. Maurice Mason was also asked to research whether any London Boroughs were insourcing their PSS service. The Chair agreed to consolidate all outstanding questions for Maurice Mason's team to address comprehensively.

Parking and Markets Services IT Systems

The Board approved the business case for the procurement of new IT systems for Parking and Markets services, with an estimated aggregate value of £10 million (excluding VAT) over an initial four-year term and two optional three-year extensions. The procurement will utilise a Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, structured into nine lots for cloud-hosted Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions. This approach aims to boost competition, allow smaller suppliers access, and replace the current single-supplier contract.

Maria Korelina confirmed that a 15% social value evaluation would be included, exceeding the central government recommendation, with requirements tailored to SaaS. Rosangela Rhodes advised removing a specific reference to the TOMS framework from the tender document, instead recommending referencing the Council's Sustainable Procurement and Insourcing Strategy. David Von Ackerman offered to share formal wording, previously agreed with Legal, for the competitive flexible procedure regarding the closing of the process once a winner is determined. Leila Gillespie and Gemma Wetton agreed to facilitate this.

Michael Wiktorko provided an update on the Cashless Payment Strategy and the National Parking Platform (NPP), noting that new statutory guidance from the Secretary of State for Transport required the Council to consider the NPP. The procurement would now incorporate this guidance, exploring a multi-vendor approach.

Adult Skills Dynamic Purchase System

The consideration of the report on the use of the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Adult Learning Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the 2026/2027 procurement cycle for Adult Skills funding was deferred to the next meeting. Timothy Lee provided a point of clarification regarding agenda item 5, explaining that a three-month contract extension mentioned in the legal comments was outdated and a drafting error.