Issue - meetings

Report ECHS19028

The Committee considered a report seeking approval for an extension of the contract for support services to voluntary and community sector organisations for one year.  This would result in a revised contract termination date of 31 March 2020.

The ‘Support Services to Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations’ (VCSE) contract with Community Links commenced on 1 April 2018 and was due to expire on 31 March 2019.

The service was commissioned to deliver four service components: Volunteer Brokerage; Developmental Advice and Support; Community Outreach; and Policy/Partnership Agendas.

The option to extend for one year was included in the contract, with no further option to extend after the 31 March 2020. There was a budget provision of £48,000 to meet the cost of the one year extension phase.  The aggregate value of the contract and the extension detailed in the contract was £96,000 and would usually fall within the approval domain of the Chief Officer (in accordance with the Scheme of Delegation). However additional funds were made available outside the contract at a value of £24,000 which was a bridging arrangement to support the establishment of the Bromley Third Sector Enterprise.  The value of the proposed extension would result in a cumulative commitment of £120,000. Consequently permission was being sought from the Portfolio Holder, to grant an extension to the contract until 31 March 2020.  The extension phase would facilitate a commissioning options appraisal process which would subsequently inform the future commissioning arrangements for support to the voluntary sector.  The Committee noted that the outcome of an options appraisal for future commissioning intentions post March 2020 would be presented to the Chief Officer and Portfolio Holder in May 2019.

The Committee expressed concern that due to the timescales involved there was very little option but to agree to the extension.  It was noted that an equality impact assessment had not been included in the report to Members and officers were reminded that such assessments should be included where necessary.

Following a detailed discussion it was agreed that a further report should be brought back to the June meeting of the Committee.  The report should provide further information such as: staff breakdown; the number of hours provided; what the staff were instructed to deliver; and details of contract and performance monitoring over the last 12 months.

A Co-opted Member recognised that there was limited HR capacity available to voluntary organisations and it was suggested that a clearer set of objectives would be welcomed.

RESOLVED: That the Portfolio Holder be recommended to approve the extension of the Supported Services to Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations contract for one year, resulting in a revised contract termination date of 31 March 2020.