Hillingdon Council Cabinet Member and Officer Decisions
Translation and Interpretation Services – Contract Extension
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Executive Decision Notice – 01 August 2025
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
OFFICIAL EXECUTIVE DECISION NOTICE
PUBLISHED BY DEMOCRATIC SERVICES
Notice is hereby given that the following decision(s) have been made today by
Cabinet Members at the London Borough of Hillingdon:
Title of decision Translation and Interpretation Services – Contract
Extension
Reference No. 1479
Date of decision Friday 01 August 2025
Call-in expiry date Friday 08 August 2025
Relevant Select
Committee
Corporate Resources & Infrastructure Select Committee
Relevant Wards N/A
Decision made
Cabinet Members making
the decision
Councillor Ian Edwards, Leader of the Council
Councillor Jonathan Bianco, Cabinet Member for Corporate
Services & Property
Decision Approved
That the Leader of the Council, in consultation with the
Cabinet Member for Corporate Services & Property,
agreed to extend the current contract with THE BIG
WORD for the provision of Translation and Interpreting
Services to the London Borough of Hillingdon for a ONE
year period from 21 August 2025 to 20 August 2026 at a
cost of £117,000 for the period.
That this decision is conditional upon an AI solution
being identified for implementation in August 2026.
Reason for decision The initial term of this contract will conclude on 20 August
2025; therefore, approval is requested for a one -year
extension. This extension will enable the service to explore
emerging and cost-effective technologies and align with the
Council’s key Digital partners (ICS.AI and Jadu) to deliver a
new operating model, e.g. potential to use AI for interpreting
and translation services.
Additionally, Members considered the potential of AI to
provide more effective and efficient translation solutions and
agreed to the contract extension subject to that work being
undertaken.
Alternative options
considered and rejected
Allow the current contract to expire and work ‘off contract’
with less favourable terms.
Executive Decision Notice – 01 August 2025
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
The Resident Hub manages the contract, while service
areas like Adult and Children’s Social Care, Place, and
Corporate Resources decide on interpretation and
translation needs.
The Council’s medium -term plan for T&I services post -
August 2026 will be to re- tender through compliant
procurement. Officers are also exploring AI -driven
interpreting and machine translation (with ICS.AI, our
development partners) to enhance service delivery and
provide cost-effective solutions.
Immigration is projected to be a significant driver of
population growth, with net immigration accounting for a
substantial portion of the increase. The need for interpreting
and translation services is likely to remain high due to the
diverse linguistic backgrounds of migrants.
After extended talks with the supplier, the council secured
lower rates for the one- year contract extension than those
in the current agreement.
Classification Part II – Members Only and Not for Publication
Link to associated report That this report be declared as exempt from publication as
it involves the disclosure of information in accordance with
Section 100(A) and paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12
(A) to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), in that
the report contains information relating to the financial or
business affairs of any particular person (including the
authority holding that information) and that the public
interest in withholding the information outweighs the public
interest in disclosing it.
Relevant Officer contact
& Directorate
Vicky Mills & Zeenat Kapadia – Resident Hub Managers ,
Corporate Services
Michelle Kenyon – Assistant Category Manager –
Procurement
Any interest declared by
the Cabinet Member(s) /
dispensation granted
N/A
Implementation of decision & scrutiny call-in
[Internal Use only]
When can this
decision be
implemented by
officers?
Officers can implement Cabinet Member decision in this notice only
from the expiry of the scrutiny call-in period which is:
5pm on Friday 08 August 2025
However, this is subject to the decision not being called in by
Councillors on the relevant Select Committee. Upon receipt of a
Executive Decision Notice – 01 August 2025
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
valid call-in request, Democratic Services will immediately advise
the relevant officer(s) and the decision must then be put on hold.
Councillor scrutiny
call-in of this
decision
Councillors on the relevant Select Committee shown in this notice
may request to call-in this decision. The request must be before the
expiry of the scrutiny call-in period above.
Councillors should use the Scrutiny Call-in App (link below) on their
devices to initiate any call-in request. Further advice can be sought
from Democratic Services if required:
Scrutiny Call-In - Power Apps (secure)
Further information These decisions, where applicable, have been taken under The
Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access
to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.
This is the formal notice by the Council of the above executive
decision, including links to the reports where applicable.
If you would like more information on this decision, please contact
Democratic Services on 01895 250636 or email:
democratic@hillingdon.gov.uk.
Circulation of this decision notice is to a variety of people including
Members of the Council, Corporate Directors, Officers, Group
Secretariats and the Public. Copies are also placed on the
Council’s website.
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