Track the business activity and commercial plans of Chorley Borough Council — identify tender and future spending opportunities before they reach the market, follow cabinet and committee decisions, and understand the council’s priorities, with intelligence extracted from 285 analysed meetings.
Meetings analysed285
Procurement opportunities380
Pressures tracked178
Estimated pipeline value£16.8bn–£37.0bn
Active procurement topics
Over the last 12 months, the most frequently discussed commercial topics in this council's meetings have been IT & Digital (43 mentions, easing), Housing (26 mentions, easing), Professional Services (26 mentions, easing) and Construction & Building Works (19 mentions, easing).
Commercial signals extracted from recent Chorley Borough Council meetings — approvals, budget decisions and early procurement discussions, before a tender is published.
A new statutory food waste collection service has been introduced and is now being embedded. Initial participation is around 35% to 50% across the borough, with 630.4 tonnes collected so far; the council plans to promote the service further after the bedding-in period, which will affect future communications, logistics and possibly contract performance.
“"On waste, our food waste collection service has started to be embedded. It was implemented from the April 13, and, reports will be coming back through cabinet, etcetera. But at the moment, I think it's 260 tons of food waste that have been successfully collected. Our garden wast…”
The committee refused permission for a children's care home at 40 Irish Drive after concerns about parking, increased activity, and harm to the character of the estate. Members relied on policies protecting residential amenity and the established family-housing nature of the site. This was not a procurement spend decision, but it may affect future commissioning of children's residential placements by limiting where such homes can be located.
“I've had a proposal and a second for refusal on the grounds that councelor Southern outlined. members have voted to refuse uh planning permission on the grounds that have been mentioned.”
The committee approved a 39-unit affordable housing scheme on land west of Preston Road, Coppell, subject to conditions and a section 106 agreement. The scheme is described as 31 dwellings plus a block of maisonettes with eight units, and the agent said it would deliver 39 much-needed affordable homes. No exact contract value was given, but the development represents a major housing delivery commitment.
“Speaker 2: Thank you, chair. So the application seeks planning permission for 39 affordable units comprising of 31 dwellings and a block”
The council has adopted or put in place an infrastructure strategy, cybersecurity strategy, responsible AI policy and a new digital strategy. These policies will shape how future digital services are bought, governed and delivered, including stronger requirements around security and inclusion.
“"We've also put in place the strategic building blocks we need for the future, including an infrastructure strategy with agreed investment, a cybersecurity strategy to protect our data, and a responsible artificial intelligence policy and a new digital strategy that will moderniz…”
Cabinet approved a new town centre PSPO to address persistent and emerging antisocial behaviour, including an extension to cover Morrison's and Ashley Park. The order had been consulted on with partners, businesses and residents, and enforcement will be carried out by authorised council officers with police support and fixed penalty notices.
“So this report is to seek approval for the implementation of a new public spaces protection order for the town center to address persisting and emerging antisocial behaviors. The previous order expired in December 2023 and unfortunately problems in the town center are still occur…”
The council approved a new capital programme of £928,000, funded by government housing funding and existing capital resources, to extend and refurbish Cotswold House, purchase four rough sleeper pods, and acquire four homes for the Afghan resettlement scheme. The report framed this as a long-term investment to reduce reliance on hotels and bed-and-breakfast accommodation and improve temporary accommodation capacity.
“So, firstly I ask members to refer to paragraphs 27 to 31 where the report proposes investment of Cotswold House. So, the proposal includes extending two existing flats to create much-needed larger family accommodation. Going to give you an example of one family currently living…”
The committee reviewed several governance and procurement-related items. Key procurement points were proposed simplifications to contract waiver approvals, clarification of contract procedure rule thresholds, and upcoming planning committee delegation changes driven by legislation. The meeting also covered audit progress, leisure company governance improvements, health and safety controls, treasury outturn, and annual standards reporting.
The meeting focused heavily on housing investment, including capital funding for temporary accommodation, rough sleeper pods, and Afghan resettlement homes, alongside wider discussions on biodiversity strategy, habitat-bank agreements, and a Croston neighbourhood plan. Members also noted strong annual performance, with spending and operational delivery highlighted across leisure, events, homelessness, housing, and environmental services. Several governance and appointment changes were agreed at the end of the meeting.
The cabinet focused on two public space protection order renewals/introductions covering West Moorland and the town centre, both aimed at tackling antisocial behaviour, fire risk and related enforcement through council, police and partner patrols, signage, consultation and fixed penalty notices. Members also discussed practical enforcement issues, including CCTV, reporting routes, response times, youth engagement, and whether the town centre order should extend to Steel Lane. A refreshed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2025-2028 was then approved, with a live action plan, monitoring arrangements and an emphasis on supporting diverse communities and businesses, including follow-up on a shopkeeper facing language and support barriers.
The committee considered a major brownfield housing scheme at Northeast Avenue/Railway Road, a children's care home proposal at 40 Irish Drive, and an appeals update. The housing scheme raised issues of employment land loss, affordable housing, vacant building credit, highways, flood risk, biodiversity, and section 106 contributions, and was ultimately approved. The care home proposal was refused after concerns about parking, residential amenity, and precedent. Members also discussed appeal outcomes and concerns about the council's approach to defending future appeals.
The committee primarily discussed Chorley Leisure Ltd’s performance, refurbishment and decarbonisation plans, staffing and service development, alongside wider scrutiny updates on health and adult social care, suicide prevention, and the committee’s work programme. Several items indicate ongoing or emerging procurement needs, including leisure services and supplies reviews, future holiday camps and fitness/apprenticeship provision, and potential future reviews into NEETs, women's safety, unadopted roads, and discretionary funding for community organisations.
The meeting focused on a revised licensing policy consultation, including new safety-related requirements for licensed venues and a 10-week public consultation. Members also received an update on Operation Abacus, a joint taxi and private hire compliance operation with Lancashire Police, which identified vehicle defects, badge breaches and wider public safety issues.