Agenda item

            On 19^th September 2002, the Executive Board gave approval for the award of interim contracts to existing supported housing providers in order to afford protection to vulnerable people in receipt of services. The report proposed that the interim contract would be replaced by full Supporting People (SP) contracts, subject to the findings of a rigorous review to be conducted on each service which would evaluate value for money based on cost, strategic relevance and quality. In Halton there were 107 services for vulnerable members of the community at an approximate cost of £8m per annum.

 

            The Supporting People Service Reviews in Halton had been completed and in general services were found to be offering a fair to good service. The report highlighted the number of service improvements instigated by the Supporting People Team during the review process.

 

            The Service Reviews also highlighted potential to reconfigure existing services in order to meet gaps in local needs and to improve value for money by reducing the cost of services. Initial discussions regarding the findings of the Supporting People Service Reviews had taken place with approximately one third of providers. These discussions had indicated a potential gross annual saving of approximately £700,000.

 

            The report sought approval to extend interim contracts for a period of up to 12 months and to enter into full contracts, following a period of consultation with providers and subject to the following provisos:

 

-                     services were configured to meet an agreed local need;

 

-            services were of good quality, reaching a minimum of level C against Supporting People Quality Assessment Framework and meeting all Quality and Performance Standards to the entire satisfaction of the Supporting People Commissioning Body;

 

-            services were reviewed as offering Value for Money in terms of the quality and cost of the service; and

 

-            expenditure could be met within existing budgets.

 

            It was proposed that Standing Orders would be waived due to compliance with Standing Orders not being possible as:

 

(i)         The SP Interim Contract set out an intention to enter into long term contracts subject to the satisfactory outcome at service review;

 

(ii)        It would result in a clear financial detriment to the Council in that, a mass procurement exercise would be prohibitive in terms of cost and time;

 

(iii)       it was not practicable as a mass procurement exercise could distablise the provider market and place vulnerable people at risk of loss of service;

 

(iv)       an extension of the interim contract would allow officers additional time to undertake further value for money assessments, which would be used to inform negotiations with providers on reduced levels of funding; and

 

(v)        an extension of the interim contract would afford the authority the flexibility not to renew contracts, should this prove necessary, to contain expenditure within budget.

 

            RESOLVED: That

 

(1) in the exceptional circumstances detailed above, for the purpose of Standing Order 1.6, that Standing Orders 2.2 – 2.6, 2.8 – 2.13, 3.3 -3.6, be waived on this occasion because compliance would result in a clear financial detriment to the Council and would result in a market imbalance, placing vulnerable service users at risk of a loss of service;

 

(2) the Council extends interim Supporting People Contracts for a period of up to 12 months and enters into negotiations with existing service providers to ensure the continued provision of services to vulnerable service users, subject to the providers being able to demonstrate, to the entire satisfaction of the Supporting People Commissioning Body,  that services are of good quality, are strategically relevant and offer value for money;

 

(3)            Contract Standing Orders 2.2 – 2.6, 2.8 – 2.13, 3.3 – 3.6 are suspended to implement a retraction plan for the re-configuration of 24-hour Supported Living Services in order to minimise the risk of loss of service of some of the most vulnerable members of our community;

 

(4)            delegated powers be approved to enable the Strategic Director, Health and Community, in conjunction with a Portfolio Holder for Community, to award contracts to existing providers subject to the conditions set out above on the varied terms set out under Sections 3.10 – 3.13 of the report;

 

(5)            subsequent to the expiry of full Supporting People Contracts, granted under a waiver due to the exceptional circumstances set out in the report, Supporting People Services will be procured through a competitive tendering process; and

 

(6) the Strategic Director, Health and Community, in conjunction with the portfolio holder for Community, be authorised to take such action as may be necessary to implement the above recommendations