Issue - meetings

Councillor A. Brar

To consider an exempt report proposing the procurement of a specialist housing management and resident support service for the White House Hostel.

Reason for exemption

This report contains exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006 Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because, disclosure to the public would prejudice the financial position of the authority in a competitive procurement process by allowing other bidders to know the financial position of the Council.  This in turn prejudices the Council by (i) distorting the procurement process and (ii) prejudicing the opportunity for the Council to achieve a competitive price and good value for money.

(Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Cabinet considered an exempt report concerning the provision of a specialist housing management and resident support service for the White House Hostel.

Options considered and rejected by Cabinet

·         To continue existing negotiations with Salvation Army and SAHA (Salvation Army Housing Association) in isolation

·         To pursue a direct delivery model in isolation

·         To pursue a competitive procurement exercise in isolation

Resolved to:

1.    Note the ongoing contract negotiations between the Council, the Salvation Army and Salvation Army Housing Association;

2.    Authorise the Group Head for Community Wellbeing to commence an appropriate competitive procurement exercise to identify a specialist housing management and resident support service provider;

3.    Authorise the Group Head for Community Wellbeing to commence the development and design of a Direct Delivery Model for specialist housing management and resident support service; and

4.    Note that a further report will be presented to Cabinet later in 2020, which will present all options for specialist housing management and resident support at the White House Hostel.

Reasons for decision

The Council is under a contractual obligation with Homes England to complete and start to occupy the hostel by the end of March 2021. Authorising appropriate officers to appoint a provider will allow sufficient time for a provider to mobilise in advance of this date, and be party to key decisions during the final stages of the build, including the types of furniture, fixtures and fittings, and well as finalise operational logistics of running the hostel.

To provide the Council with viable alternative delivery routes for the specialist housing management and resident support service at the White House Hostel.