Cabinet Members for Housing and Finance

Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Housing and Health and the above Cabinet Members, which sought approval to waive the existing requirement to procure a new Staying Put Contractor Framework for six months, and procure a new three and a half year Framework Agreement, starting in April 2015.

Members spoke in support of the Staying Put service and the benefit it provides to local residents.

A Member asked if the Cabinet could give serious consideration to providing the core funding for the Staying Put service if KCC decided to withdraw their funding?

The Leader explained that this would be considered at the appropriate time as part of the budget setting process.

The Cabinet Member for Localism referred to the proposed changes to Contract Standing Orders and the Local First Policy, and asked the Chief Executive to comment on how the ethos of local jobs for local people would be embedded within the procurement process?

A Member asked how the Council could be sure that the rates within the Framework Agreement were still competitive and should the Council be negotiating better rates for the remaining six months?

The Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Health considered that the Staying Put service was at the cornerstone of emerging health policy with a focus on enabling people to remain in their homes, and the service was well respected by the local Clinical Commissioning Groups.

The Cabinet Member for Housing advised that he would continue to work with officers to champion the service with KCC and stress the need for District Councils to be fully consulted on any proposals emerging from KCC regarding future funding.  He explained that applicants to the Staying Put service could also acquire their own quotes, which ensured that contractors within the Framework Agreement remained competitive.

The Strategic Housing and Health Manager advised that there were earmarked reserves for Staying Put, which would enable the service to continue for a period of time should funding be withdrawn.  Alternative funding options were being explored, as well as on-going discussions with KCC.  She explained that the tender process would include a local element and the current rates had been through a competitive tendering process in 2011.

The Chief Executive advised that the tender process would reflect the Council’s Local First Policy and there was every reason to believe that local providers would be successful in next year’s tender exercise.  He also advised that the small average size and cost of the jobs under the current tender made it difficult to achieve significant cost savings as part of the six month extension of the framework contract. 

RESOLVED:

(1) That the Staying Put Contractor Framework be extended for a further six months from the framework end date of October 2014.

(2) That a new three and a half year Contractor Framework Agreement for Staying Put be procured.