Agenda item

To consider the report.

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive:

-       Approved the award of a 5-year contract for the appointment of suppliers to deliver housing related support and accommodation for 16 to 25 year olds, based on the most advantageous tender, to the proposed suppliers (as per the confidential evaluation report (Appendix B), commencing on 1 April 2024.  

-        Agreed to delegate authority to the Executive Director for Children and Family Services and the Executive Director for Community Services in consultation with the relevant Lead Members to evaluate and take a further decision on the two 2-year extension options at the appropriate time. 

-        Approved the set up and operation of a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) to provide further anticipated beds, as and when required. This would entail the set-up of the system itself, the approval of providers to join the DPS through a Selection process and the ongoing award of call-of contracts through the system. The maximum spend over the term of the DPS would be £100,000,000. The term would be 10 years commencing on 01/04/2024. 

-        Agreed the case for applying the exempt information provision as set out in the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A and therefore to treat the confidential Appendix B in confidence, as it contained commercially sensitive information, and as the case for the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing that information. 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED: As set out in the officer report

REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the officer report

The Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Governance and Communications, Cllr Bill Revans, invited the Lead Member for Children, Families and Education, Cllr Tessa Munt, to introduce the report.

The Lead Member for Children, Families and Education, Cllr Tessa Munt, introduced the report highlighting; that the contract award is the Council's response to prevent youth homelessness in Somerset; that the statutory responsibility is shared with Community Services and Children, Families and Education services; the tender process and work across Directorates; the set up of a dynamic purchasing system to provide further beds for young people where they are required; that the award will ensure that young people are supported to manage a tenancy and develop daily living skills, as well as help them into education, employment or training.

The Strategic Commissioner for Children in Care, Julie Breeze, presented the report, highlighting: the 2 block contracts and procurement process; the flexible DPS contracting arrangement which will allow pre-approved providers to join an open account; the response from the market was highly positive and consultation sessions included input from young people and the inclusion of 10% social value commitment; the statutory requirements of the Homelessness Reduction Act, the Children Act and the Care Act; the two sets of vulnerable young people requiring different levels of support; the service concept to allow young people with housing related support needs to progress along a pathway; and the range of flexible, high-quality accommodation located across the whole of Somerset.

The Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Governance and Communications, Cllr Bill Revans, invited comments from other Members present, questions and points raised included: the care review, the number of young people in the system and changes in requirements and complexity of needs increase, and the broad effect across the whole care system; the comparison of need before and after the pandemic and  safeguarding accommodation provision process across the age differences, including Ofsted registered provision for 16-17 year olds; and the Somerset area coverage and support networks for young people

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive:

-       Approved the award of a 5-year contract for the appointment of suppliers to deliver housing related support and accommodation for 16 to 25 year olds, based on the most advantageous tender, to the proposed suppliers (as per the confidential evaluation report (Appendix B), commencing on 1 April 2024.  

-        Agreed to delegate authority to the Executive Director for Children and Family Services and the Executive Director for Community Services in consultation with the relevant Lead Members to evaluate and take a further decision on the two 2-year extension options at the appropriate time. 

-        Approved the set up and operation of a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) to provide further anticipated beds, as and when required. This would entail the set-up of the system itself, the approval of providers to join the DPS through a Selection process and the ongoing award of call-of contracts through the system. The maximum spend over the term of the DPS would be £100,000,000. The term would be 10 years commencing on 01/04/2024. 

-        Agreed the case for applying the exempt information provision as set out in the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A and therefore to treat the confidential Appendix B in confidence, as it contained commercially sensitive information, and as the case for the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing that information. 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED: As set out in the officer report

REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the officer report