Preston City Council

Members approved a ten-year youth strategy based on consultation with 1,400 young people. The strategy identifies priorities such as vaping, drugs and alcohol, violence, cheaper activities, cleaner streets, better transport, careers, mental health and physical activity, and it is intended to shape delivery of youth services and the new youth zone. This has procurement implications for outreach, youth work, mental health interventions and facilities use.

Vault Youth Zone is a £11.9 million purpose-built youth facility under construction in Preston. The organisation says its annual running cost is about £1.5 million and that Eric Wright Group has provided construction support and committed to ongoing operational support, creating substantial social value.

The meeting gave a clear definition of social value in council contracts: suppliers may be required to employ disabled people, volunteer, recognise trade unions, and pay the living wage. This indicates an active procurement policy using contract terms to generate wider community benefits.

The council approved a two-year extension to the existing contract for stair lifts and through-floor lifts delivered via Disabled Facilities Grants. Officers confirmed performance has been satisfactory, and the extension must be agreed before 30 August 2025.

Members confirmed that demand for Disabled Facilities Grants has outstripped government capital grant due to rising applications and sharply increased construction costs. The council intends to add £500,000 of its own funding in the 2026/27 budget, on top of £100,000 approved the previous year, to reduce the shortfall.

The council approved accepting a government grant of £81,032 for the crisis resilience fund, renamed from the housing support fund. This is ring-fenced funding passed through Lancashire County Council to support people in social need, particularly during winter months.

The podcast focused on Preston’s climate action agenda, especially green skills training, a planned community-owned solar installation at Preston College, and the council’s climate strategy. The main procurement-related items were Preston City Council’s £360,000 UKSPF funding for green skills training, Preston College’s use of procurement processes to secure project funding, and Community Energy Preston’s forthcoming share offer and power purchase agreement to finance and deliver 881 solar panels. The discussion also covered climate engagement activity, active travel investment, and community-led initiatives such as the Green Pledge and Preston Climate Forum.

The meeting covered several procurement and policy-relevant matters, led by climate adaptation and emergency communication, parks refurbishment and play provision, housing planning controls on HMOs, and licensing policy renewal for sex establishments. There were also spending-related updates on local assets including a gatehouse refurbishment linked to a potential cricket club tenancy, while members raised concerns about council commercial rents and the condition of local greens and play areas. A sex establishment policy for 2026-2030 was approved, and the council also agreed a minor committee meeting-time change.