Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing

Purpose of report

To delegate authority to Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing Service to award the contract for the provision of  “General Information and Money Advice Services”.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         To delegate authority to Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing to award the contract for the provision of an Agency and Temporary Staff Managed Service in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and s151 Officer.

1.2         To delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer to enter into the agreement with the successful provider.

Resolved

(1)          That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing to award the contract for the provision of an Agency and Temporary Staff Managed Service in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and s151 Officer.

(2)          That authority be delegated to the Monitoring Officer to enter into the agreement with the successful provider.

The Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing submitted a report to delegate authority to Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing Service to award the contract for the provision of  “General Information and Money Advice Services”.

Resolved

(1)          That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing to award the contract for the provision of an Agency and Temporary Staff Managed Service in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and s151 Officer.

(2)          That authority be delegated to the Monitoring Officer to enter into the agreement with the successful provider.

Reasons

As the setting of the 2022 budget required a saving in the commissioning of a Money Advice service, an extension of the current provision was not an option to explore in ensuring a continued Money Advice Service. For this reason, it was agreed that an entirely new commission would take place. The process was open to any operator in the market with a “general information” and “money advice” specialism.

The current contract ends on 31 December 2022. To achieve the required savings, the new contract must begin at the lower rate on 1 January 2023.

An exhaustive procurement exercise was undertaken whereby value for money

research was undertaken, a specification that met current and future needs of

Cherwell residents was formulated, and in conjunction with Oxford County Council, procurement team, a tender was launched to the market.

Two respondents submitted tenders and these tenders were assessed by the CDC procurement specialist for eligibility and by the Housing Commissioning officer, Housing Manager and by Cherwell’s Housing consultant to assess quality assurance.

It was unanimously agreed that Tender 2 has met and exceeded the stated tender requirements.

Alternative options

Option 1: Do not award a Contract. This option has been rejected because Cherwell District Council is in need of a Free money Advice and General information service for its residents

Option 2: Extend Current contract at current cost. This option has been rejected because Cherwell District Council is Committed to making savings in 2021/2022. The current cost is unsustainable and when considering comparable public services, not optimal value for money