Decisions

Acquisition of Bus Depot to support Bus Franchising

To approve the acquisition of a bus depot to support bus franchising, within previously approved capital and revenue budgets for bus franchising.

The 2 sites are owned by Manchester City Council (MCC) and MCC will take on the full aftercare and maintenance obligations that were previously provided by GMCA. The service level agreement will provide a 12 month transitional period for the services to transfer to MCC.

To enter into a service level agreement with Manchester City Council (MCC) for GMCA to provide maintenance services at 2 former landfill sites owned by MCC.

1. As part of the Greater Manchester Franchising Scheme for Buses 2021, a service permit scheme must be introduced in order to allow services to operate within the franchised area that will not form part of the franchised network.

2. The Transport Act 2000 (the “Act”) and the Franchising Schemes (Service Permits) (England) Regulations 2018 (the “Regulations”) provide for a set process to be carried out by a franchising authority implementing a service permit scheme and where it wishes to impose conditions on granted service permits.

3. Following the completion of the two consultations required as part of this process set out in the Act and the Regulations, this decision allows for the further required steps under the legislation to be carried out, which shall allow TfGM to begin accepting applications for service permits from operators, and attaching conditions to service permits, in time for the beginning of the franchising scheme in Greater Manchester.

1. Note the contents of the report dated 19th May 2023 titled ‘The Greater Manchester Franchising Scheme for Buses 2021 - Service Permit Scheme’ (‘the Mayoral Report’).

2. Note that TfGM has, as required by Regulation 3 of the Franchising Schemes (Service Permits) (England) Regulations 2018 (the “Regulations”) on the proposed service permit process:
a. published a consultation document which satisfies the requirements set out in regulation 4 (1) of the Regulations; and
b. consulted relevant persons on the contents of the consultation document in accordance with regulation 3(2)(b) of the Regulations.

3. Note the contents of the ‘Service Permit Consultation Report’ (Appendix 1 of the Mayoral report) and agree the recommendations regarding the service permit process.

4. Approve the publication of the Mayoral Report and appendices (including the Service Permit Consultation Report) as the response to the consultation pursuant to regulation 3(2)(c) of the Regulations.

5. Note and agree the contents of the proposed Service Permit Policy Statement appended to the Mayoral report (Appendix 2) and approve the publication of it pursuant to Regulation 3(2)(d) of the Regulations following the publication of the response to the consultation detailed above.

6. Note that, in relation to the separate consultation on the proposed conditions and description of conditions to be attached to service permits required by s.123R of the Transport Act 2000 (the ‘Act’), TfGM has consulted all relevant operators and any other relevant persons on the proposed conditions/descriptions of conditions to be attached to service permits pursuant to s123R(5) of the Act.

7. Note and agree the outcome of, and the proposed responses to, the service permit condition consultation as set out in section 7 of the Service Permit Consultation Report (Appendix 1 of the Mayoral report) and approve the publication of the same.

8. Note and agree the contents of the Notice of Conditions/Description of Conditions (Appendix 3 of the Mayoral report) and approve the publication of the said notice pursuant to section 123R(1) of the Act.

9. Delegate authority to TfGM to carry out all functions from and including section 123P through to and including section 123S of the Act to allow TfGM to operate the administration of the service permit scheme and conditions regime as set out in the Mayoral report.

The strategic aim of VRUs communications plan is to reduce serious violence by increasing aspirations of young people in Greater Manchester, and reassuring the public that the VRU is working together with partners and the community to address serious violence and its underlying causes.

The communications objectives are to:

• Raise awareness of how Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is working together with partners and the community to address serious violence.
• Promote an alternative to violence by showcasing opportunities for people affected by violence and build aspirations for young people through campaigns and communications activity.
• Demonstrate the impact of the VRU in reducing serious violence, especially violence amongst young people.

The aim of this contract is to support the above objectives by amplifying the VRUs presence online and reach.



The content creation contract will:
- Provide a steady stream of high-quality content - at least three pieces per week – this could include written blog material, short video edits, social graphics etc.
- Provide a content plan/calendar for the year, with space built in for ad hoc requests/events/news, sometimes with short time frames
- Ensure our website and social channels are fresh and engaging - Increase the number of people we reach with our communications, especially within our key target audience groups
- Use social ads to ensure certain messages reach certain audiences, including when community tensions are high/after a serious incident

The VRU wishes to conduct a full commercial services-led procurement exercise inviting tender submissions for the VRU’s next content creation contract, covering delivery form August 2023 to April 2024. This contract would cover content provision for the VRU website, social media channels, and VRU events. The total contract value is to be £49,000.

GMCA want Greater Manchester to be a place where everyone can live a good life in a greener, fairer more prosperous city region. The Education Summit 2023 will be an opportunity for education leaders and other stakeholders to come together and explore how we can collaborate to add value to Greater Manchester's education system, ensuring that children and young people everywhere can make the most of what we have to offer.

This summit will focus on exploring issues linked to leadership, recruitment and retention, inclusion and equitable outcomes. It will be an opportunity for education sector leaders to:

• learn more about the work that GMCA is already doing with schools and colleges.
• share their ideas about how working across Greater Manchester could help GM to unlock its potential to support children and young people.
• pose questions to a panel, including the Mayor; and
• contribute their expertise and experience to shaping ongoing collaboration.

This event directly correlates to the VRU Education Delivery Group’s Terms of Reference; it contributes to collaboration within the Education sector to address and reduce risk factors contributing to serious violence.

The Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit are seeking to make a contribution of £2500 to a GMCA Education Summit to be hosted at the AJ Bell Stadium on 14th June 2023.

The Programme Challenger Board is the executive function of the Programme Challenger partnership in Greater Manchester. Membership of the Challenger Board comprises senior managers from key partners from the public and third sectors. The Challenger Board scrutinises partnership progress against the implementation of the Greater Manchester Serious and Organised Crime strategy and provides strategic assistance to the Programme Challenger partnership in respect of delivery of the Challenger action plan.

The Board directs the activity of its working groups and monitors activity of other governance groups that report into the Board. Members commit to ensuring that the work of Challenger features on other strategic and executive partnership boards across Greater Manchester, including safeguarding boards and community safety partnerships across the ten districts.

In the last 6 months, the Board has undergone a review and one of the recommendations is to recruit a dedicated chair to drive its agenda. The current Chair has resigned due to a change of employment but was very vocal in advocating for an independent chair due to the work involved in making this role a success.

The role has now been advertised and expressions of interest requested by 19th May 2023.

The Programme Challenger Executive Board is seeking to recruit an independent chair.

It is proposed that the Chair will dedicate 12 days a year for a term of 2 years, at a cost of £850 per day.

Recruitment costs will be approximately £2000 for targeted advertising to maximise reach.

Total over the 2-year term = £20,400 plus VAT, plus £2,000 recruitment contingency.

Established in 2015, the SOCEX welcomes over 250 attendees and 20+ guest speakers from various roles linked with addressing Serious and Organised Crime. This year’s conference titled ‘Delivering an agile response to SOC in an increasingly unstable global context’ will be hosted over three days (9th and 11th October 2023) in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

This event provides attendees with the opportunity to listen to a series of guest speakers linked with the Serious and Organised Crime agenda as well as a chance to network and find out what programmes of work are being carried out across the UK.

The GMCA will pay Think Different Events £742.80 to cover the registration fees for Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit Director and Assistant Director (Police, Crime, Fire and Criminal Justice), to attend the Serious and Organised Crime Exchange’s (SOCEX) annual conference on 9th - 11 October 2023. This fee will cover the following;

All Conference materials
Lunches and refreshments on 10th and 11th October
Conference Dinner, 10th October
Overnight Accommodation on 9th and 10th October

Procurement legislation requires GMP to tender for these goods and services. The recommended route provides the most effective route to market.

The ESPO Framework 379_21 for Non-Domestic Community Waste and Recycling Collection and Disposal Services allows for Direct Award if it can be demonstrated that they are the most economically advantageous supplier. The current contract is working well with no waste going to landfill.

The Deputy Mayor approves the Direct award of a three-year contract term contract for Waste and Recycling Collection and Disposal Services, to Veolia, with the option to extend for a further one-year optional extension. The likely value of the 48-month contract period would be circa £776,000.00 in total for both GMP & GMFRS.

Procurement legislation requires GMP to tender for these goods and services. The recommended route provides the most effective route to market.

The Deputy Mayor approves the award of contracts for Financial & Personal Data Services to Experian Ltd and Recipero Ltd, each for 3 years with the option to extend for a further 12 months. The likely value of the max contract period of four years spend, across both contracts, would be circa £551,000.

Following competition UK Landscapes Ltd emerged as the preferred supplier

The Deputy Mayor approves the award of a 2 year contract for Grounds Maintenance Services, to UK Landscapes Ltd, with the option to extend for a further 3 years. The likely value of 5 years spend would be circa £750,000.

The Greater Manchester Restorative Justice Service is part commissioned through the Victims Service Grant.

It had previously been agreed in the year 3 extension that the recommission needed to be brought in line with the recommission of the victims services.

Out of the control of GMCA or the Deputy Mayor, the victim services commission has been delayed until June 23 therefore to ensure that we can recommission a GMRJ service that falls in line with the victim services commission we need to further extend the contract with Remedi, to ensure there is no break in the service.

The funding will continue at the same payments as already allocated.

Year 4 Extension – 4th October 22 – 2nd July 23

Total – £ 185,294.25

The Greater Manchester Restorative Justice Service will continue through exemption approval in line with the Victims Services Commission.
The total cost of this extension will be - Total – £ 185,294.25