Agenda item

To note the progress made in evaluating options to re-procure an alternative service provision, including in the accompanying Part II report, and the resulting proposed changes to the implementation plan and to resolve:

(a)  That in order to alleviate the time constraints and provide sufficient time for the re-procurement project to achieve its full aims, that officers be empowered to explore and evaluate options to procure an interim provision of services from April 1st 2016 for a period of between 12 and 20 months.

(b)  That following completion of an options appraisal, the decision to pursue the best option for interim service provision be delegated to the Strategic Director, Regeneration, Housing and Resources, following consultation with the Leader and the Commissioner for Neighbourhoods & Renewal, to decide on the interim provision solution.

(c)  That following an exercise to determine the scope of the project and subsequently which vehicle should be used to deliver the objectives therein, to be carried out by the project team and agreed by the commissioning and procurement board, the Cabinet resolve to delegate to the Strategic Director, Regeneration, Housing and Resources, following consultation with the Leader of the Council and Commissioner for Neighbourhoods & Renewal, the choice of option for the final business case to be based upon.

The Cabinet considered a report advising Members of the progress made in the re-commissioning process for a responsive repair and maintenance service for housing properties.

The existing contract for the housing repairs and maintenance service would end in March 2016 and the work undertaken so far to understand the aspirations of the Council, tenants and leaseholders for the future provision indicated that the new model was likely to be very different to the current contract in terms of scope, delivery, performance and outcomes.  In order to achieve an outcome that reflected these ambitions, it was therefore proposed to evaluate the options for interim provision for an additional period of between 12 and 20 months from 1^st April 2016.

Commissioners discussed a range of issues including data sharing and IT provision; the in house expertise in commissioning and procurement to manage this process; using the knowledge and experience of other local authorities; and the potential links with other major contracts.  The links with the Amey contract were considered and the Cabinet were therefore supportive of a 20 month period of interim provision to make the contract co-terminus and maximise the potential re-commissioning opportunities.

The options for the future model and interim provision were considered, including the Part II Appendix which included exempt information relating to the interim provision.  After due consideration, the Cabinet agreed that officers could explore the options to procure interim provision for up to 20 months beyond the end of the current contract and that the Strategic Director of Regeneration, Housing and Resources have delegated authority to pursue the best option following the options appraisal.  A further report would come back to Cabinet in the summer of 2015 recommending a course of action to approve the business case for the final option to be prepared for market.

Resolved –  That the progress made in evaluating options to re-procure an alternative service provision, including in the accompanying Part II report, be noted and the resulting proposed changes to the implementation plan and to resolve:

(a)  That in order to alleviate the time constraints and provide sufficient time for the re-procurement project to achieve its full aims, that officers be empowered to explore and evaluate options to procure an interim provision of services from April 1st 2016 for a period of between 12 and 20 months.

(b)  That following completion of an options appraisal, the decision to pursue the best option for interim service provision be delegated to the Strategic Director, Regeneration, Housing and Resources, following consultation with the Leader and the Commissioner for Neighbourhoods & Renewal, to decide on the interim provision solution.

(c)  That following an exercise to determine the scope of the project and subsequently which vehicle should be used to deliver the objectives therein, to be carried out by the project team and agreed by the commissioning and procurement board, the Cabinet resolve to delegate to the Strategic Director, Regeneration, Housing and Resources, following consultation with the Leader of the Council and Commissioner for Neighbourhoods & Renewal, the choice of option for the final business case to be based upon.