Decision details

The Executive will be asked to consider proposals relating to a number of contracts for the provision of adult social care which are due to expire during 2010

Received a report from the Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services on the outcome of a comprehensive review of a range of externally provided adult social care contracts, the majority of which are due to expire on 31 March 2010.

The review has been influenced by a number of new national initiatives and strategies as well as individual assessments of the contracts across a number of value-for-money criteria, including service user satisfaction.  Other factors taken into account have been the need to create a breathing space in which to develop new services and align health and social care priorities, which will be based on the latest Joint Strategic Needs Assessment undertaken by the Council and NHS Barking and Dagenham.  As a result, the proposals include a combination of contract termination, extensions with reduced volume pending re-commissioning, extensions under current arrangements pending re-commissioning and re-tendering. 

Discussed a number of aspects relating to the contracts, the composition of management boards of external organisations and the Council’s exposure to various risks.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council to achieve all of its Community Priorities and a balanced budget within Adult and Community Services for the financial year 2010/11, to:

  (i)  The proposals in respect of the individual contracts for each contractor as detailed in the private and confidential document Appendix A, subject to the variation of the contract listed at no. 21 having an indicative extension period up to 30 September 2010;

  (ii)  Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services, in consultation with the Legal Partner (Procurement, Property and Planning), to progress all aspects of the proposals contained within the report, including the discussions and negotiations with current providers, the extension of current contracts and the procurement and award of new contracts as appropriate;

Further agreed that:

  (iii)  All future Council contracts with external parties should include an appropriate clause, to be determined by the Legal Partner (Procurement, Property and Planning), aimed at protecting the Council’s image and reputation in the event of inappropriate action by the external party (including its employees, agents, sub-contractors etc.); and

  (iv)  The Divisional Director of Legal and Democratic Services carry out a review of representation on external organisations, to:

a.  Ensure that appointed Member representatives are receiving appropriate advice and support from officers, and

b.  Ascertain the number of Members that are appointed to external organisations’ Management Boards in an independent capacity and not as a representative of the Council.