Hackney Council's Procurement Board has deferred a decision on a significant £17.1 million contract for fibre optic cable installation and maintenance, citing the need for further consideration.
The contract, officially known as the HCE S671 PSS and Optical Fibre Cable Installation and Maintenance Contract, was scheduled for discussion at the board's meeting on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The decision to postpone was made to allow for a more thorough review of the proposal.
This deferral means the contract, estimated to be worth £17.1 million over a maximum seven-year term, will now be revisited at the next Procurement Board meeting on February 10, 2026.
Contract Scope and Objectives
The contract encompasses the installation and maintenance of Public Space Surveillance (PSS) systems and associated optical fibre networks. The key expected outcomes include the continued operation and planned preventative maintenance of the council's PSS systems and the fibre optical network that supports both PSS and ICT systems. It will also facilitate capital replacement and improvements to PSS systems as equipment ages or technological advancements necessitate upgrades.
The overarching aims of these systems are to deter criminal activity, assist in securing convictions, and provide a sense of reassurance to the public.
Financial Breakdown
The estimated revenue spend for the contract is broken down as follows: Town Centre PSS at £375,000 per annum, Housing Estate PSS at £400,000 per annum, Corporate PSS at £20,000 per annum, Parking Services at £500,000 per annum, and External Partners at £150,000 per annum. Over the seven-year maximum term, this totals £10.1 million in revenue spend.
Anticipated capital works include £160,000 in the first year for Town Centre PSS, £150,000 for Parking Services, and £700,000 for Housing PSS. A speculative sum of £1 million per annum has been allocated for potential capital spend on new systems and the replacement of aged systems in years two through seven, amounting to £6 million. The combined maximum revenue spend of £10.1 million and potential capital spend of £7 million equals the total maximum potential spend of £17.1 million over the contract's lifespan.
Existing Contract Status
The current contract for the council's PSS and Optical Fibre installation and maintenance commenced on April 1, 2020, for an initial three-year period. Options to extend the contract for two further two-year periods were exercised, meaning it is set to expire on April 30, 2027.
The full details of the proposal can be found in the PSS Optical Fibre Cable Installation And Maintenance Contract - Business Case.
More information regarding the meeting can be accessed in the Public reports pack Tuesday 13-Jan-2026 14.00 Hackney Procurement Board.