Agenda item

To authorise the Director of Adult Social Care to award the contract for the supply of Minor Adaptations and Handypersons Service 2023-2026.

Resolved:-

1.1 That the Director of Adult Social Care in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adults, Social Care & Health, be authorised to award the contract for the supply of Minor Adaptations and Handypersons Service 2023-2026 following the conclusion of the current procurement exercise.

1.2 To authorise the Director – Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer to enter into any legal agreements to enable the course of action referred to in 1.1 above to proceed.

1.3 That any necessary exemption be made to the Council’s Procurement and Contract Procedure Rules to enable the course of action referred to in 1.1 above to proceed.

Approval was sought to authorise the Director of Adult Social Care, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adults, Social Care and Health, to award the contract for the supply of Minor Adaptations and Handypersons Service 2023-2026 following the conclusion of the current procurement exercise.

                  The Vice-Chair for the Economy Skills Transport and Environment Scrutiny Board questioned whether there would be a requirement for the handy person to enter people’s property wearing over shoes. In response, the Cabinet Member for Adults, Social Care and Health stated that there would not be a requirement for the contracted provider to wear covers over shoes, as this posed a health and safety risk for the employee whilst at work. Any customers of the handyperson service could request the wearing of over-shoes, but the decision to do so or not lay with the individual completing the work.

                  A further question on whether the handy person would be a local person. The Cabinet Member for Adults, Social Care and Health stated whilst this could not be answered, the contract would be sourced via a tender process and therefore the potential bidders were currently unknown. As with most tender exercises, the bidders would be required to answer a quality question based on social value.

                  Reasons for Recommendations

The current contract framework was due to end on 31 December 2022.

It was necessary to request delegated Director authority to award this contract upon completion of tender evaluation at the end of September 2022. This would ensure that mandatory standstill requirements were observed, and sufficient time was available to comply with any potential TUPE requirements. Furthermore, it would allow for an appropriate mobilisation period to be implemented.

Alternative options considered

No alternate options had been considered as this contract was required under the SMBC Policy for the Provision of Assistance (Regulatory Reform Order (Housing Assistance) (England & Wales) Order 2012.

Additionally, under the Care Act 2014, a local authority must provide or arrange for the provision of services, facilities or resources, or take other steps, which it considers would;

(a) contribute towards preventing or delaying the development by adults in its area of needs for care and support;

(b) contribute towards preventing or delaying the development by carers in its area of needs for support.

Due to the forthcoming expiration of the Minor Adaptation and Handyperson service contract in December a procurement exercise was required to continue the provision of such service and works.

The most economically advantageous solution was to conduct a tender process in compliance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The cost of employing SMBC staff, alongside costs for supplies and services, would exceed the budget for this service.                       

                           Agreed:-

(1)     that the Director of Adult Social Care in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adults, Social Care & Health, be authorised to award the contract for the supply of Minor Adaptations and Handypersons Service 2023-2026 following the conclusion of the current procurement exercise.

(2)     to authorise the Director – Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer to enter into any legal agreements to enable the course of action referred to in (1) above to proceed.

(3)     that any necessary exemption be made to the Council’s Procurement and Contract Procedure Rules to enable the course of action referred to in (1) above to proceed.