Issue - meetings

Received a report from the Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services on proposals to procure a Domestic Violence Advocacy Service on behalf of the Barking and Dagenham Partnership.

The present service had been managed within the Council since 2005 and an independent review undertaken in 2009 recommended that, in line with national best practice, the service be commissioned out to the voluntary or third sector as an interim arrangement while a formal procurement route was pursued for more permanent arrangements.  Noted that funding of £720,000 over three years has been identified by the partner agencies to support the various initiatives that will be provided under the new service, which will include three maternity based advocates within the local Health Trust.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council and the Partnership to achieve the Community Priorities of ensuring that residents are “Safe” and “Healthy”, to:

  (i)  The procurement of a three year contact for the provision of a Domestic Violence Advocacy Service on behalf of the Barking and Dagenham Partnership, as detailed in the report; and

  (ii)  Authorise the Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Finance and Commercial Services and Legal Partners, to award the contract to the preferred bidder.