Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care and Disabilities introduced a report on the proposal to directly award a new, maximum five-year contract to the Barking & Dagenham School Improvement Partnership (BDSIP) for the provision of Council-commissioned services to schools.

The Cabinet Member referred to the creation of BDSIP, a not-for-profit company owned by local schools (81%) and the Council (19%), and its significant contribution since its inception in April 2018 to helping raise education standards throughout the Borough.  The new contract would commence on 1 April 2023 and key aspects of the specification cover the areas of school improvement; special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and inclusion; priorities for improvement and development; and education data services.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Agree that the Council proceeds with the direct award of a contract with BDSIP Limited (company no: 11126768) for the services detailed and in accordance with the strategy set out in the report; and

(ii)  Delegate authority to the Commissioning Director, Education, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement, the Strategic Director, Finance and Investment and the Chief Legal Officer, to conduct the procurement and enter into the contract and all other necessary or ancillary agreements with BDSIP in accordance with the strategy set out in the report.