North Yorkshire Council

Corporate Director

19 December 2025

Procurement for the supply, installation, servicing, and recycling of lifting equipment funded by Disabled Facilities Grants

Report of the Assistant Director of Housing, Community Development

1.0       PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1 For the Corporate Director of Community Development in consultation with the Executive Member for Culture, Arts and Housing to approve the commencement of the procurement and award contracts for stairlifts and through-floor lifts, appointing one provider for each lot.  This will enable the Council to deliver consistent standards, improve resilience, and achieve better outcomes for residents, while meeting all regulatory and contractual requirements.

2.0       BACKGROUND

2.1       The Council has a statutory duty to provide adaptations that enable residents to live safely and independently in their homes. Stairlifts and lifting equipment are essential components of this provision, particularly for residents with mobility impairments.

3.0       ISSUES

3.1       The provision of stairlifts and lifting equipment are currently delivered through multiple suppliers. This fragmented approach has led to inconsistent standards, increased administrative burden, and longer lead times for installations. It has also limited the Council’s ability to monitor performance effectively, making it difficult to ensure quality and accountability across providers.

3.2       The new procurement will address these challenges by consolidating services under a single provider contract. This will deliver consistency in quality and compliance with occupational therapy specifications, streamline processes for installation and emergency repairs, and improve resilience through clear KPIs and robust performance monitoring. Importantly, the contract will include provisions for recycling and reusing equipment, reducing waste and supporting the Council’s sustainability objectives.

3.3       The arrangement will apply across the Council’s Housing Service, ensuring a consistent approach to the provision of stairlifts and lifting equipment when adapting residents’ homes in both social and private sectors.

3.4       The scope of the procurement will include:

· Supply and installation of stairlifts (straight and curved) and through-floor lifts.

· Associated preparation works, such as asbestos surveys where required.

· Ongoing inspection and servicing as necessary.

· Recycling or refurbishment of stairlifts wherever feasible.

3.5       The tender will be divided into two lots to reflect distinct technical requirements and market specialisms:

· Lot 1: Supply, Installation, Inspection, and Maintenance of Stairlifts (including refurbishment and recycling from Year 3 onward).

· Lot 2: Supply, Installation, Inspection, and Maintenance of Through-Floor Lifts (including associated building works and structural alterations).

The nature of works differs significantly between stair