Agenda item

RESOLVED:

It was agreed that:

1.     Cabinet approves the use of a Dynamic Purchasing System to commission and award contracts for up to £13.4 million of Supported Accommodation provision for young people in Surrey from April 2018 to March 2022.

2.     The providers as listed in the Part 2 Annex of the submitted report are awarded a place on the new DPS as they have passed the Invitation to Tender (ITT) evaluation process, whilst recognising that further organisations will be able to apply throughout the duration of the DPS.

Reasons for Decisions

A Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) under the Light Touch Regime has been selected as the most appropriate route to market because:

·        It enables robust control of the quality and cost of supported accommodation services for young people;

·        It provides flexibility: this approach attracts a larger range of suppliers and allows providers to enter / exit from the list without having to re-open frameworks, which can be legally challenging and bureaucratic;

·        It is responsive. It will enable us to ensure that the service providers who can meet the emergent needs of young people, especially those who are experiencing the greatest challenges, are able to join the list throughout the length of the commission;

·        It demonstrates that we have listened to feedback and suggestions from the market and colleagues following the last tender process which was considered to be overly complicated. The approach was also too restrictive and led to spot purchasing with organisations that were not on the Framework as it was considered that only they were able to meet the needs of vulnerable young people.

[The decisions on this item are subject to call in by the Children and Education Select Committee]

The Cabinet Member for Children informed Members that the purpose of the Supported Accommodation commission was to ensure that sufficient high quality accommodation with support is available for young people that meets their needs, enable them to be safe and to achieve positive outcomes in relation to independent living, health, social wellbeing, education and employment. She said that the Council was committed to supporting young people at every stage in their lives and provide safe and secure homes. She went on to outline the groups of young people that this commission sought to help.

It was explained that this enabled Surrey County Council to fulfil its statutory duties in this area and was seeking to ensure that young people are able to remain in county and live near to their support networks.

Cabinet Members were informed that the Council had not had to place any young people in bed and breakfast accommodation for over a year and this was seen as a significant achievement.

The current supported accommodation framework would end on 31 March 2018 and work has been undertaken in partnership to look at the needs of young people and work with them to plan for their future. The Cabinet Member referred Members to the Equalities Impact Assessment and stated that there were no negative factors identified in having a commissioned service.

The Cabinet Member for Health said that she was very moved by the report and that she had reviewed the needs analysis and felt that it was very important to speak money in this area to support children through difficult times.

The Cabinet Member for Education referred to looked after children and the importance of giving them the best start to adult life.

The Leader summarised by saying that he was extremely pleased that bed and breakfast accommodation had not been used and that this was a credit to the service and the officer involved. He went onto say that there were a significant number of young people in Surrey that required this support and the Council was committed to doing everything it can to help them.  

RESOLVED:

It was agreed that:

1.     Cabinet approves the use of a Dynamic Purchasing System to commission and award contracts for up to £13.4 million of Supported Accommodation provision for young people in Surrey from April 2018 to March 2022.

2.     The providers as listed in the Part 2 Annex of the submitted report are awarded a place on the new DPS as they have passed the Invitation to Tender (ITT) evaluation process, whilst recognising that further organisations will be able to apply throughout the duration of the DPS.

Reasons for Decisions

A Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) under the Light Touch Regime has been selected as the most appropriate route to market because:

·        It enables robust control of the quality and cost of supported accommodation services for young people;

·        It provides flexibility: this approach attracts a larger range of suppliers and allows providers to enter / exit from the list without having to re-open frameworks, which can be legally challenging and bureaucratic;

·        It is responsive. It will enable us to ensure that the service providers who can meet the emergent needs of young people, especially those who are experiencing the greatest challenges, are able to join the list throughout the length of the commission;

·        It demonstrates that we have listened to feedback and suggestions from the market and colleagues following the last tender process which was considered to be overly complicated. The approach was also too restrictive and led to spot purchasing with organisations that were not on the Framework as it was considered that only they were able to meet the needs of vulnerable young people.