Issue - meetings

Report of John Hoad, Head of Service

Summary

To seek approval for the award of a contract for the provision of voluntary services across three thematic areas:

1. Debt and money advice
2. Services to increase volunteering
3. Voluntary driving services

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended to:

(1)               Award a contract for the provision of voluntary services across all three thematic and geographical areas to Banbury CAB, whose bid involves arrangements and partnerships with five other voluntary organisations, for a period of three years from 1 April 2012 with the option to extend by up to a further two years.

(2)               Confirm the cessation of existing funding arrangements for organisations funded through the Council’s Voluntary Sector (Community Development) Grants Programme and Community Transport Grants Programme as from 31 March 2012.

Recommendations approved, with the additional resolution:

(3)       That officers be requested to work with flexibility to ensure implementation of the underlying contract structures and to ensure the SLA reports evidence sub contractor performances and input to the new voluntary service ideals.

Head of Service 8 submitted a report which sought approval for the award of a contract for the provision of voluntary services across three thematic areas:

1. Debt and money advice
2. Services to increase volunteering
3. Voluntary driving services

At the discretion of the Chairman Councillor Lawrie Stratford addressed Executive stressing the importance of transitional arrangements being put in place to ensure a smooth transfer and the need for post-transfer monitoring.

Councillor Les Sibley, Leader of the Labour Group, addressed Executive commenting that there was a lack of clarity regarding the future of voluntary organisations which had previously relied on grants and querying if the reliance on volunteers was sustainable in the long term.

Councillor Tim Emptage, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, addressed Executive querying the measures that would be put in place to ensure no cut in services.

In response to the Members’ addresses, Head of Service 8 explained that the aim of the process which had been approved by Executive in May 2011 was to cease the existing funding arrangements of grants and to commission services through a tender process which adhered to EU regulations and the council’s contract procedure rules. He confirmed that there would be regular post-implementation monitoring and that officers were keen to work with the new commissioning arrangements regarding volunteers. It was acknowledged that the cessation of grants may impact on voluntary organisations and a report would be submitted to Executive in due course regarding the transport association and possible transfer to Oxfordshire County Council.

The Chairman acknowledged that the process represented a fundamental change to service delivery and would have implications on voluntary organisations which had previously relied on grants. The council was protecting service delivery through the procurement of service specific deliverables to suit the specific needs of the district which represented better value for money.

Resolved

(1)               That a contract for the provision of voluntary services across all three thematic and geographical areas be awarded to Banbury CAB, whose bid involves arrangements and partnerships with five other voluntary organisations, for a period of three years from 1 April 2012 with the option to extend by up to a further two years.

(2)               That the cessation of existing funding arrangements for organisations funded through the Council’s Voluntary Sector (Community Development) Grants Programme and Community Transport Grants Programme as from 31 March 2012 be confirmed.

(3)               That officers be requested to work with flexibility to ensure implementation of the underlying contract structures and to ensure the SLA reports evidence sub contractor performances and input to the new voluntary service ideals.

Councillor Atack requested that his abstention from the vote be recorded.