Issue - meetings
Framework agreement for the procurement and management of temporary accommodation
Meeting: 12/11/2012 - Executive (Item 14)
This report seeks authority pursuant to the Council’s Contract Standing Orders 88 and 89 to invite tenders for Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the Procurement and Management of Temporary Accommodation pursuant to the Council’s Private Sector Accommodation Scheme (PSA). This procurement exercise is designed to provide a sufficient supply of accommodation in the right places to adequately respond to the changes being made to the benefit system in 2013. The report also updates members on other actions being taken to mitigate the impact of these changes. The proposed DPS will commence in April 2013 for the duration of two years with an option to extend for up to two years.
Additional documents:
- rmp accommodation-app1, item 14 PDF 91 KB
- rmp accommodation-app2-eia, item 14 PDF 126 KB
- rmp accommodation-app2-eia, item 14 PDF 602 KB
Decision:
(i) that approval be given to the pre-tender considerations and the criteria to be used to evaluate tenders for a DPS for the Procurement and Management of Temporary Accommodation as set out in paragraph 3.7 of the report from the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects;
(ii) that approval be given the inviting of expressions of interest, agreement of shortlists, the invite Tenders for a DPS for the Procurement and Management of Temporary Accommodation and their evaluation in accordance with the approved evaluation criteria referred to in (i) above;
(iii) that the content of the Council’s temporary accommodation placement policy as set out in Appendix 1 be noted and authority be delegated to the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects to finalise and approve any minor amendments to the temporary accommodation placement policy.
Minutes:
Councillor Long (Lead Member, Housing) introduced the report from the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects which sought authority to invite tenders for Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the Procurement and Management of Temporary Accommodation pursuant to the Council’s Private Sector Accommodation Scheme (PSA). This procurement exercise was designed to provide a sufficient supply of accommodation in the right places to adequately respond to the changes being made to the benefit system with the introduction of the Overall Benefit Cap in April 2013. Councillor Long referred to the adverse impact of the benefit cap of £500 pw on claimants and a recent review by the Department for Work and Pensions of the temporary accommodation subsidy regime and have confirmed this would continue to be based on current arrangements amounting to a budget cut. Other points of concern in identify accommodation were transport links to the borough and maintaining community links. Councillor Long made reference to the Temporary Accommodation Placement Policy appended to the report which set out the rationale for the placement of households in temporary accommodation, both inside and, where necessary, outside the borough and drew attention to the equalities impact assessment which acknowledged that the policy would have a disproportionate impact on the grounds of race and faith. Work was taking place to improve the employment opportunities of residents to help them remain the borough. Councillor Long also referred to other actions being taken to mitigate the impact of these changes including the proposed Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), a completely electronic system to purchase commonly used services, such as the procurement and management of private temporary accommodation. The DPS would commence in April 2013 for the duration of two years with an option to extend for up to two years.
The Director of Regeneration and Major Projects re-emphasised the adverse impact on some communities set out in the Equalities Impact Assessment and the efforts that would be made to mitigate which members acknowledged. They wished for it to be made clear that many local authorities had little choice but to take such measures in order to comply with statutory obligations.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that approval be given to the pre-tender considerations and the criteria to be used to evaluate tenders for a DPS for the Procurement and Management of Temporary Accommodation as set out in paragraph 3.12 of the report from the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects;
(ii) that approval be given the inviting of expressions of interest, agreement of shortlists, the invite Tenders for a DPS for the Procurement and Management of Temporary Accommodation and their evaluation in accordance with the approved evaluation criteria referred to in (i) above;
(iii) that the content of the Council’s temporary accommodation placement policy as set out in Appendix 1 of the report be noted and authority be delegated to the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects to finalise and approve any minor amendments to the temporary accommodation placement policy.