Agenda item

          The Sub-Committee was advised that significant work had been carried out to support the development of the Voluntary Sector through commissioning and contracting arrangements over the previous three years. Voluntary sector services were now commissioned to deliver outcomes set out in the Prevention and Early Intervention Strategy. All services had been reviewed and remodelled in order to improve outcomes and deliver efficiencies.

          Due to the uncertainty around a number of grant funding streams and the late confirmation of budgets, approval was sought to waive procurement standing orders 3.1 to 3.7 and 4.1 to 4.3, in order for the Strategic Director Adults and Community, in conjunction with the portfolio holder for Health, to extend the voluntary sector contracts set out in the report for a period of one year, with the option to extend for a further two years, subject to budgetary provision and evidence that the services continued to meet local health and wellbeing needs.

          It was noted that services were being delivered by local, established voluntary sector organisations with an extensive knowledge and understanding of Halton and the needs of its local community. As a result it would not make commercial sense to invite tenders as costs could outweigh any potential savings. In addition, commissioners would review these services annually to ensure desired outcomes continued to be achieved and that the method of service delivery remained the most cost effective for the Council.

          The cost of entering into these contracts would be contained within existing available budgetary provision.

          Members were advised that one change to note was that the Council had transferred responsibility for the provision of sexual health services to Halton and St. Helens PCT and therefore no longer directly held any contracts with the voluntary sector for HIV/Aids services.

          RESOLVED: That

          (1)      in light of the exceptional circumstances set out in the report, for the purpose of standing order 1.8.2, procurement standing orders 3.1 to 3.7 be waived on this occasion in order to extend existing voluntary sector contracts for the provision of health and wellbeing services set out in Appendix 1, in order to ensure continuous care; and as the contracts offer value for money and are performing well in meeting the needs of people who use these services;

          (2)      in light of the exceptional circumstances set out in this report, for the purpose of standing order 1.8.2, procurement standing orders 4.1 to 4.3 be waived on this occasion in order to extend existing voluntary sector contracts for the provision of health and wellbeing services set out in Appendix 2, in order to ensure continuous care; and as the contracts offer value for money and are performing well in meeting the needs of people who use these services; and

          (3)      the Strategic Director, Adults and Community be authorised, in conjunction with the portfolio holder for Health, to enter into contracts, listed in Appendix 1 and 2, for one year from April 2011 to the end of March 2012, with an option to extend on an annual basis, subject to budgetary provision and good performance in meeting local need, for a further two years up to the end of March 2013.