Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Hannah Gray, Terence Nathan and Pauline Tunnicliffe and from PDS Co-opted Members Linda Gabriel, Justine Godbeer, Tia Lovick, Peter Moore, Catherine Osborn and Daniel Wadey.

Rosalind Luff declared an interest in view of her involvement with Bromley Parent Voice which used these services.

Report CS14113

The Commissioning Division had recently carried out a full market testing, tendering and procurement exercise to appoint a long term Prime Provider of short breaks. The role of the Prime Provider was intended to deliver some, but not all, short break provision with effect from 1 April 2015, and for the Prime Provider to sub-contract to other providers as and when relevant.

Although submissions had been received, they did not meet the Council’s criteria for award. As a result, the tendering and procurement exercise had been unsuccessful and no contract had been awarded.

In order to avoid a gap in service provision approval was requested from the Care Services Portfolio Holder to enter into a long term contract with Riverside School for the purpose of group-based short break provision. Due to the limited capacity of Riverside’s provision this could leave a sufficiency gap which was intended to be filled by spot purchasing until such time as a provider framework could be established.

Approval was also sought to enter into a long term extension of the contract with Bromley Mencap to provide network services, including child-minding, buddying and a sitting services, which would be co-terminus with the Riverside contract.

Members were informed that considering the matter now, rather than at the next PDS Committee meeting, would allow time for alternative solutions to be implemented should the Portfolio Holder decide not to proceed as recommended. This would involve going back to the market, but with a different approach, or trying to establish a framework of providers.

It was queried why three year contract periods were needed. The contracts would be for up to three years, designed to reduce in volume, with three month break clauses, allowing time for take-up of personal budgets and for providers to be reassured about the direction of the market.

Members suggested that the Care Services PDS Committee should monitor progress after about twelve months, and this was welcomed by the Portfolio Holder.

RESOLVED that

(1) The majority of group based short breaks provision will be commissioned from Riverside School  from 1^st April 2015 for a period of up to 3 years, cumulative cost over three years not exceeding £750,000;

(2) Network services, including child-minding, buddying and a sitting service be commissioned from Bromley Mencap from 1^st April 2015 for a period of up to 3 years, cumulative cost over three years not exceeding £240,000; and

(3) Any shortfall in group based provision be commissioned via spot purchasing until a provider framework can be established.