Decision details

The Council has a number of housing-related support contracts that need to be re-procured urgently to ensure they are legally compliant and to ensure continuation of crucial service to enable a longer term review and commissioning plan to take place.

That the Leader:

1. Approve the proposed housing related support services as set out in this report.

2.    Approve the procurement of the housing related support services as set out in this report.

3. Delegate authority to the Director of Commissioning in consultation liaison with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services to agree appropriate contract terms and following the procurement approve contract awards and thereafter enter into such contracts.

4. Delegate authority to the Director of Commissioning in consultation with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services and the Director of legal Services that following such procurement to take such other necessary steps, not covered by existing delegations, to achieve the outcomes and objectives of this report.

1.    14 housing related support contracts need to be re-procured.

The services are supporting and accommodating vulnerable people and families.

2.    Providers need to be able to recruit to vacant posts which is difficult if contracts are due to run out.

3.    Other providers wish to invest substantial amounts of money into the accommodation but cannot do this without some certainty of continuing in service.  Without re-procuring or extending contracts the quality of some of the accommodation in use will reduce and other measures intended to provide changes to buildings to deal better in the longer term with covid.

4.    To retain needed services in the city at a time of increased demand and economic vulnerability for people whilst other longer term service reviews take place.

1.    Allow the services to cease.  This would have a major and serious impact on very vulnerable people including young people and children in families at risk and vulnerable adults. These impacts would include:

·       families at risk being placed into bed and breakfast

·       More children being taken into care

·       An increased risk of domestic abuse

·       Young people rough sleeping or sofa surfing, not developing their potential and potentially committing crime and antisocial behaviour or self-harming

·       More adults sleeping rough and misusing substances, including causing antisocial behaviour

·       An increase in serious mental health crises

2.    To go out to tender for a shorter period of time.

           Short tenders do not provide market confidence and may result in less       or no interest from bidders.  Importantly it would not give the Council the flexibility to strategically plan and reschedule new commissions in relations to any significant changes that may be required.  However, the break clauses will enable flexible remodelling of services with providers where required.