Issue - meetings

The purpose of this report is to seek authority for the renewal of two contracts delivered through Brent Children’s Centres; one supplying speech and language therapy to children aged under 5 years and the other delivering independent advice and guidance to Brent families. The services are commissioned by the council and form part of a range of services to families delivered through Children Centres.

(i)         that approval be given to an exemption from the tendering requirements of Contract Standing Orders and approve the renewal of the current Speech and Language Therapy contract for children aged under 5 years with Hillingdon Community Health from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014 at a total cost of £306,700 at existing terms and conditions;

(ii)        that approval be given to an exemption from the tendering requirements of Contract Standing Orders and approval of the renewal of the current Independent Advice and Guidance (IAG) services with Brent Citizens Advice Bureau from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014 at a total cost of £175,608 at existing terms and conditions;

(iii)       that the proposal outlined at 3.5.1 of the Director’s report to bring Children’s Centre SALT services together with existing SALT services for children with Statemented Special Educational Needs in a single procurement to achieve cost and volume efficiencies be noted.

The report from the Director of Children and Families sought authority for the renewal of two contracts delivered through Brent Children’s Centres; one supplying speech and language therapy to children aged under five years and the other delivering independent advice and guidance to Brent families. The services were commissioned by the council and form part of a range of services to families delivered through Children Centres. Approval was sought from the Executive for an exemption to tendering requirements of Contract Standing Orders requirements to renew speech and language therapy (SALT) and independent advice and guidance contracts for 12 months from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014 at existing terms and conditions. Councillor Arnold (Lead Member, Children and Families) advised that that this would allow time to align service planning and achieve improved and more proactive services.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that approval be given to an exemption from the tendering requirements of Contract Standing Orders and to the renewal of the current Speech and Language Therapy contract for children aged under 5 years with Hillingdon Community Health from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014 at a total cost of £306,700 at existing terms and conditions;

(ii)        that approval be given to an exemption from the tendering requirements of Contract Standing Orders and approval of the renewal of the current Independent Advice and Guidance (IAG) services with Brent Citizens Advice Bureau from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014 at a total cost of £175,608 at existing terms and conditions;

(iii)       that the proposal outlined at 3.5.1 of the Director’s report to bring Children’s Centre SALT services together with existing SALT services for children with Statemented Special Educational Needs in a single procurement to achieve cost and volume efficiencies be noted.