Agenda item

Report attached.

The Cabinet considered a report of Councillor Noordad Aziz, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Transformation, Education and Skills, regarding the future provision of Weight Management Services in Hyndburn.

Councillor Aziz provided a brief introduction to the report.  He reported that the funding to be received from Lancashire County Council would be slightly greater than had been indicated in the report, up from £66,770 to around £70,700 per annum.

Approval of the report was not deemed a key decision.

Reasons for Decision

The levels of obese and overweight adults and children in Lancashire continued to increase and working collaboratively provided the opportunity to reshape and redesign the service in the Borough.  In Hyndburn, 71.7% of adults were overweight or obese.  In children, the figure was 24.6% for reception year and 42.4% for Year 6.  All of these were significantly higher than the Lancashire and National averages.

Since the transfer of public health services from NHS to local authorities, Councils in Lancashire had provided Tier 2 weight management services, tackling obesity with community-based support.  These programs typically ran for around 12 weeks and often operated in group settings.  Participants received expert guidance on diet, nutrition, and lifestyle changes, with a strong focus on behaviour change generally centred around exercise.

These programmes empowered individuals to manage their weight, improve their well-being, and reduce their risk of weight-related health issues.  Though limited in duration, they acted as a crucial springboard for lasting change, helping individuals find their footing on the path to a healthier life.

Hyndburn Borough Council had entered into a collaboration agreement with Lancashire County Council for the provision of Weight Management Services in Hyndburn from 1^st April 2024 until 31^st March 2029.

The Council did not have the resources or expertise to deliver the service in house, and therefore would have to appoint a provider to deliver the service on its behalf.

Hyndburn Leisure had a proven track record of delivering weight management services, with over 200 adults completing their 12-week programme and had the staff resource and expertise required to deliver the new service going forward.

The report recommended that the Council waive its Contract Procedure rules to appoint Hyndburn Leisure to deliver the new service from 1^st  April 2025 for one year for the following reasons:

·      Proven track record of weight management service delivery since 2016 and Play and Skills at Tea-time Activities (PASTA) service delivery since 2023;

·      Time and resources required for the Council to go to full tender for this service would not allow for the service to be up and running by 1^st April;

·      Potential TUPE implications involving Hyndburn Leisure staff currently delivering the service

The Council would be required to tender these services for the remaining 3 years of the collaboration agreement period from 1^st April 2026 to 31^st March 2029.

Alternative Options considered and Reasons for Rejection

Cabinet could determine not to waive Contract Procedure Rules to appoint Hyndburn Leisure to deliver the service on the Council’s behalf from 1^st April 2025 for one year – This course was not recommended for the reasons mentioned in Paragraph 3.7 of the report.

Cabinet could decide to deliver the service in house – This course was not recommended due to lack of resource and expertise to deliver the service directly.

Resolved                                 (1)   That Cabinet agrees to waive the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules to appoint Hyndburn Leisure to deliver Weight Management Services on behalf of the Council for 1 year from 1^st April 2025 to 31^st March 2026 for a fee of c.£70,700 (to be confirmed); and

(2)   That Cabinet agrees to delegate authority to the Executive Director (Resources) to negotiate and agree all terms relating to the above in consultation with the Executive Director (Legal & Democratic Services).