Issue - meetings

This report concerns commissioning arrangements for local advice and guidance services. Current arrangements for the provision of generalist and specialist legal advice end on 31 March 2016. The report sets out the requirements and options considered in remodelling and commissioning advice and guidance services with the aim of enabling better access, earlier intervention to limit escalation of problems and better outcomes for people requiring advice and guidance.  This report requests approval to invite tenders in respect of local advice and guidance services to be procured as two separate lots as required by Contract Standing Orders 88 and 89. 

(i)         that approval be given to the invite of tenders for local advice and guidance services in two separate lots on the basis of the pre - tender considerations set out in paragraph 3.28 of the report from the Chief Operating Officer;

(ii)        that approval be given to the evaluation of the tenders referred to in (i) above on the basis of the evaluation criteria set out in paragraph 3.28 of the report;

(iii)       that approval be given to an exemption from Contract Standing Order 104(b) to permit evaluation of bids on the basis of quality criteria alone, for the reasons set out in paragraph 3.29 of the report;

(iv)       that authority be delegated the Chief Operating Officer to consult with Brent Residents and Tenants Association on the final detail of the tenders in advance of the invite exercise.

The report from the Chief Operating Officer concerned commissioning arrangements for local advice and guidance services. Current arrangements for the provision of generalist and specialist legal advice would end on 31 March 2016. The report set out the requirements and options considered in remodelling and commissioning advice and guidance services with the aim of enabling better access, earlier intervention to limit escalation of problems and better outcomes for people requiring advice and guidance.

With the consent of the meeting, Jacky Peacock addressed the Cabinet on behalf of Advice for Renters and Brent CAB, two members of the Brent Advice Matters (BAM) consortium, and referred to a crisis in demand for advice services. Jacky Peacock commended the consortium’s website launched in May 2015 and which currently provided information and referral pathways for work, money, benefits and housing issues with sections for health and immigration planned for the future. The website was currently funded through a Big Lottery grant but this was due to end shortly. In any event, she felt that face to face advice would always be required and drew attention to the number of private tenants which was expected to quadruple in coming years. She requested information on the tender process and hoped there would be a facility for small grants for organisations.

The Cabinet agreed on the value of flexibility and also that the Chief Operating Officer should take appropriate advice from community representatives in advance of going to tender.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that approval be given to the invite of tenders for local advice and guidance services in two separate lots on the basis of the pre - tender considerations set out in paragraph 3.28 of the report from the Chief Operating Officer;

(ii)        that approval be given to the evaluation of the tenders referred to in (i) above on the basis of the evaluation criteria set out in paragraph 3.28 of the report;

(iii)       that approval be given to an exemption from Contract Standing Order 104(b) to permit evaluation of bids on the basis of quality criteria alone, for the reasons set out in paragraph 3.29 of the report;

(iv)       that authority be delegated the Chief Operating Officer to consult with community representatives on the final detail of the tenders in advance of the tender exercise.