Issue - meetings

This report requests Cabinet approval to invite tenders for contracts for the provision of Housing Related Support (HRS) services as required by Contract Standing Orders 88 and 89.

Cabinet RESOLVED

(1)       To approve inviting tenders for Housing Related Support (HRS) for Homelessness services (including ex-offenders); Mental Health services; Young Persons Services; Domestic Abuse Refuges and Complex Women’s service; Generic Floating Support service, Older Persons Floating Support service and Handy Person service to be procured as seven separate contracts on the basis of the pre - tender considerations set out in paragraph 3.19 of the report for initial contract term of three years with two plus 1 year options to extend (5 years in total).  The anticipated commencement date would be 1^st November 2021 and a total contract value of £15,189,940.

(2)       To approve Officers evaluating the tenders referred to in (1) on the basis of the evaluation criteria set out in paragraph 3.19 of the report.

(3)       To agree that contracts are tendered at London Living Wage (LLW) levels under the new proposed HRS service contracts as set out in Section 4 of the report.

(4)       To delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Community and Wellbeing in consultation with the Lead Member for Adult Social Care to award the contract for HRS services as detailed in the report.

Councillor Farah, Lead Member for Adult Social Care introduced a report on the re-procurement of Housing Related Support (HRS). Members noted the changes identified to the level of HRS services being procured, which it was reported had been due to reduced demand rather than the need for budget reductions.

In supporting the recommendations, Councillor Southwood, Lead Member for Housing and Welfare Reform acknowledged the clarity provided regarding the changes to the level of HRS services, and highlighted the importance of ensuring that services responded to the needs of residents.

Councillor Knight, Lead Member for Community Safety and Engagement thanked the Lead Member and officers for the increased level of support for Domestic Abuse Services and the Single Women with Complex Support Needs Service, especially in light of the increase in levels of domestic violence identified during the pandemic.

In summing up, Councillor M Butt, Leader of the Council praised the level of support available to residents through HRS services, in particular homelessness and ex-offender provision, as well as the proposal to ensure all contracts were tendered at London Living Wage levels.

It was RESOLVED that Cabinet:

(1)      Approve inviting tenders for Housing Related Support (HRS) for Homelessness services (including ex-offenders); Mental Health services; Young Persons Services; Domestic Abuse Refuges and Complex Women’s service; Generic Floating Support service, Older Persons Floating Support service and Handy Person service to be procured as seven separate contracts on the basis of the pre - tender considerations set out in paragraph 3.19 of the report for initial contract term of three years with two plus 1 year options to extend (5 years in total).  The anticipated commencement date would be 1^st November 2021 and a total contract value of £15,189,940.

(2)      Approve Officers evaluating the tenders referred to in (1) on the basis of the evaluation criteria set out in paragraph 3.19 of the report.

(3)      Agree that contracts are tendered at London Living Wage (LLW) levels under the new proposed HRS service contracts as set out in Section 4 of the report.

(4)      Delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Community and Wellbeing in consultation with the Lead Member for Adult Social Care to award the contract for HRS services as detailed in the report.