Decisions

SYMCA requires the Services of the Strategic Advisor to provide strategic advice to SYMCA’s Bus Franchising programme, acting in a non-exec capacity.

Drawing on the Strategic Advisors experience in Greater Manchester and wider strategic change expertise, the Strategic Advisor would provide expert advice, support, and assurance during the transition to bus franchising.

Key areas of support and the meeting of key dates for Tranche 1 Services in line with the programme.

The MCA currently lacks the strategic advisor expertise necessary to support this Franchising Programme. The service has been procured through the Consultancy Plus framework contract administered by YPO/ESPO to ensure compliance with procurement regulations and standing orders.

The contract will be an initial 104 days at an estimated total of £129,168.00. The service provider is Purcell Advisory Ltd

Option 2: Approve the appointment.

The expansion of the Co-Pilot pilot is a strategic step in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to maximise the value of SYMCA’s data. The initial pilot demonstrated the potential of AI-driven solutions, using custom Co-Pilots to enhance the accessibility and usability of data across various departments within SYMCA. By expanding this pilot, SYMCA aims to create significant value realisation from its existing data, enabling departments to make more informed decisions, improve operational efficiency, and drive better outcomes for the communities it serves.
The adoption of AI through custom Co-Pilots allows for the automation of complex tasks, the provision of real-time insights, and enhanced data-driven decision-making. These AI tools integrate seamlessly with SYMCA’s existing systems, such as the CRM and Data Lake, ensuring that data is not only centralised but also actionable. By making this technology more widely accessible across the organisation, SYMCA can further enhance cross-departmental collaboration, streamline workflows, and optimise service delivery, ultimately positioning the organisation to better respond to emerging challenges and opportunities. Expanding the Co-Pilot pilot will empower SYMCA to unlock the full potential of its data and create long-term efficiencies across all its functions.

To award the contract from April 2025 – April 2026 to GCI Network Solutions Ltd (Nasstar) via the Crown Commercial Services G-Cloud 14 Framework up to a value to £59,030.00

The development of the Data Lake is a key component of the CRM/Data Lake project, as outlined in the Business Justification Case. The project aims to establish a Unified Data Platform, which will centralise data from various sources across SYMCA. This platform will ensure that data is accessible and usable across different departments, enabling improved data sharing and collaboration. By centralising data in this way, SYMCA will enhance its ability to make data-driven decisions, streamline processes, and improve the delivery of services to the community. The integration of the Data Lake with the CRM system will also facilitate more efficient customer interactions, providing a holistic view of data that supports better engagement and service delivery.

To award the contract from April 2025 – April 2026 to GCI Network Solutions Ltd (Nasstar) via the Crown Commercial Services G-Cloud 14 Framework up to a value to £200,000.

The UKSPF is the Government’s major economic development fund to replace EU Structural and Investment Funds. It is a largely revenue fund aiming to boost productivity.

In December 2024 and January 2025 the MCA Board gave delegated authority to the Executive Director for Growth Business and Skills, in consultation with the Portfolio Leads for Skills and Employment and Economic Growth, Section 73 and Monitoring Officer, to develop and submit applications to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for up to £22.5m to deliver the extended UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme across financial year 2025/26 and to approve any subsequent grant offer.

Option 1 – Approve the recommendations

The UKSPF is the Government’s major economic development fund to replace EU Structural and Investment Funds. It is a largely revenue fund aiming to boost productivity.

In December 2024 and January 2025 the MCA Board gave delegated authority to the Executive Director for Growth Business and Skills, in consultation with the Portfolio Leads for Skills and Employment and Economic Growth, Section 73 and Monitoring Officer, to develop and submit applications to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for up to £22.5m to deliver the extended UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme across financial year 2025/26 and to approve any subsequent grant offer.

Option 1 – Approve the recommendations

The UKSPF is the Government’s major economic development fund to replace EU Structural and Investment Funds. It is a largely revenue fund aiming to boost productivity.

In December 2024 and January 2025 the MCA Board gave delegated authority to the Executive Director for Growth Business and Skills, in consultation with the Portfolio Leads for Skills and Employment and Economic Growth, Section 73 and Monitoring Officer, to develop and submit applications to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for up to £22.5m to deliver the extended UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme across financial year 2025/26 and to approve any subsequent grant offer.

Option 1 – Approve the recommendations

The UKSPF is the Government’s major economic development fund to replace EU Structural and Investment Funds. It is a largely revenue fund aiming to boost productivity.

In December 2024 and January 2025 the MCA Board gave delegated authority to the Executive Director for Growth Business and Skills, in consultation with the Portfolio Leads for Skills and Employment and Economic Growth, Section 73 and Monitoring Officer, to develop and submit applications to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for up to £22.5m to deliver the extended UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme across financial year 2025/26 and to approve any subsequent grant offer.

In February 2025, the SYMCA Programme Board approved BTC.

Option 1 – Approve the recommendations

The UKSPF is the Government’s major economic development fund to replace EU Structural and Investment Funds. It is a largely revenue fund aiming to boost productivity.

In December 2024 and January 2025 the MCA Board gave delegated authority to the Executive Director for Growth Business and Skills, in consultation with the Portfolio Leads for Skills and Employment and Economic Growth, Section 73 and Monitoring Officer, to develop and submit applications to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for up to £22.5m to deliver the extended UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme across financial year 2025/26 and to approve any subsequent grant offer.

The proposed allocations per Local Authority for SESY 2025-26 is:
BMBC - £1.55m
CDC - £1.70m
RMBC - £0.44m
SCC - £3.08m

Option 1 – Approve the recommendations

On 28th January 2025 the MCA Board delegated authority to the Head of Paid Service in consultation with Mayor Oliver Coppard - in his position as the Portfolio Lead for Economic Growth for progression of SY JESSICA – Investment Zone to OBC in-principle approval for £3m grant to Sheffield City Region Urban Development Fund (Limited Partnership).

The SYMCA Framework, approved by the MCA Board, allows for schemes that secure OBC in principle approval from MCA, to have a FBC approved by the SYMCA Programme Board, subject to certain conditions.

In April 2025 the SYMCA Programme Board approved the scheme.

Option 1 – Approve the recommendations

The MCA Board approved the revised Assurance Framework which provides for a one-stop governance process.

The Framework allows for schemes that are accepted into the programme to access development funding. Development funding is a key component in supporting the development of quality schemes at pace and is distributed on conclusion of the Strategic Business Case.

In July 2023 the MCA Board granted approval to delegate authority to the Head of Paid Service in consultation with Portfolio Leaders and the Section 73 and Monitoring Officer to approve the release of development cost funding in line with the Assurance Framework to enable schemes to progress as efficiently as possible.

In August 2023 the SYMCA Programme Board approved the Strategic Business Case and released £0.34m grant to aid development of the business case. Additional development grant is now being requested to enable business case progression.

Option 1 – Approve the recommendation

In July 2023 the MCA Board granted approval to delegate authority to the Head of Paid Service in consultation with Portfolio Leaders and the Section 73 and Monitoring Officer to approve the release of development cost funding in line with the Assurance Framework to enable schemes to progress as efficiently as possible.

In April 2025 the Programme Board approved the Project Mandate for this scheme.

Option 1 – Approve the recommendation

The Assistant Director Strategic Finance identified a need for experienced project accounting resource to support the Franchise Transition project as part of 2025/26 business planning.

In order to inject pace into the transition phase, endorsement was sought from the ED Resources & Investment and the Director of Bus Reform to hire an external consultant for an initial period of 6 months who would then hand over to a permanent member of staff (to be recruited in early 2025/26).

The request to recruit process via Pinpoint was followed, with approval provided by HR, Finance and the ED Resources & Investment’s delegate on 17 February 2025.

The contract will be procured through the Consultancy Plus framework contract administered by YPO/ESPO in order to ensure compliance with procurement regulations and standing orders.

We request that a contract be awarded to Consultancy Plus as per the above from 31 March to 30 September 2025 at a cost of up to £97k (5 days pw, for 26 weeks = 130 days, at £745 per day including Agency fees).

Option 2: Approve the contract.