Agenda item
Authority to Participate in a West London Collaborative procurement for the Provision of Home Care, including Housing Related Support and "Integrated" Home Care for Adults
Minutes:
The reasons for the call-in were:-
The financial reasons given are not proven. There is no comparison of NW London with other boroughs to show that expenditure is higher than any other authority. Nor does the report mention the number of service users and anticipated demand.
Members agreed that this item and item 4 (c) below be considered simultaneously as both involved similar issues. Martin Cheeseman (Director of Housing and Community Care) responded to the call-ins, advising that the decision to be involved in a West London Collaboration Procurement was as a result of considerable analysis of Adult Social Care spending by the West London Authority (WLA) boroughs. Members heard that residential and domiciliary care represented the biggest spending for each of the WLA members. The Council currently procured such services individually, however in the context of changes taking place to the Social Care market and the emphasis on the individual and the personalisation of services, it was becoming increasingly difficult for boroughs to predict their budget requirements and there was an increased risk of overspending. The analysis undertaken by the WLA had concluded that significant savings could be made through undertaking a joint tender exercise as potential contractors would be able to offer better value by serving a larger market. The advice the Council had received had suggested that there would be both savings to the WLA and to the Council.
During discussion, Councillor Castle enquired whether the Council could withdraw from the collaborative procurement if it proved to be more costly than the present arrangements. Councillor Powney enquired whether the potential savings from a collaborative procurement may in any way compromise quality of service. The Chair sought views as to whether decisions concerning service providers would depend on the majority view of the WLA members and what the implications for the Council would be if its view was in the minority. She also enquired about service provision eligibility criteria comparisons between the WLA members.
In reply, Martin Cheeseman stated that it would be unlikely that the Council would continue to be involved in the collaborative procurement if it was shown that its costs would actually increase. The purpose of the collaboration was not just to make savings, but also to ensure and improve standards and providers who had obtained at least a 2 or 3 star rating from the Quality Care Commission would be sought. Members noted that all WLA members were committed to raising standards and Martin Cheeseman added that the Council hoped that the collaboration would provide the opportunity for it to close the gap in quality service to those WLA members whose standards were presently higher. The Select Committee heard that although each borough had their own eligibility criteria with regard to service provision, they all had similar requirements. Martin Cheeseman advised that ultimately it was up to each borough whether they accepted the decision of the WLA. He commented further that collaborative procurement was made even more necessary by the need to purchase services in a more efficient way not just for the reasons already mentioned, but also because of the overall increase in key demographics. Ensuring quality of services would be specifically addressed in a separate exercise.
Councillor Lorber (Leader of the Council) added that the tendering exercise would be undertaken in line with all relevant criteria and emphasised that its objective was to secure the best value for the Council.
Members then decided not to endorse the Chair’s suggestion that any downgrading of services as a result of the collaborative procurement compared to what was presently provided be reported to the Executive.
RESOLVED:-
that upon considering the report from the Director of Housing and Community Care, the decisions made by the Executive be noted.