Issue - meetings

that the contract for the provision of Independent Review Services for an initial contract period of two years from 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2017 be awarded to Aidhour Limited with an option for the Council to extend the contract by an additional 12 months subject to satisfactory performance.

Councillor Moher introduced the report which requested authority to award a contract for the provision of Independent Review Officer Services to the Council as required by Contract Standing Order No 88. The report summarised the process undertaken in tendering the contract and, following the completion of the evaluation of the tenders, recommended to whom the contract should be awarded.

The Chief Finance Officer drew attention to the tendering arrangements which were not competitive due to the absence of a market for this service. Councillor Moher commended the work of the existing provider and the difficulties there would be in providing the service in-house and the advantages of having a single stable IRO service provider, sentiments which were echoed by the Strategic Director, Children and Young People.

RESOLVED:

that the contract for the provision of Independent Review Services for an initial contract period of two years from 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2017 be awarded to Aidhour Limited with an option for the Council to extend the contract by an additional 12 months subject to satisfactory performance.

(The Chair certified this item as urgent because the existing contract with Aidhour (an organisation that provides the chairs for looked after children’s reviews) was due to expire. If there was no contract in place, services to looked after children would be jeopardised).