That the Director of Children’s Services be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, to award the contracts for 16 plus supported accommodation provision, following the successful completion of the procurement process.

In preparation for the contract end date a thorough needs analysis and options appraisal was being finalised.  This activity would inform future commissioning and procurement activity.  This was an essential piece of work to ensure the provision commissioned meets the needs of Torbay’s young people.

Furthermore, it allows the Council to test the market by undertaking an open market procurement where it was felt to be in the best interests of residents and the local authority to test for efficiencies, new models of delivery and innovative practice.

Legislative requirements stipulate that the local authority undertakes a relevant procurement process to award contracts.

The decision to utilise the full contract extension period had been agreed to ensure time and resource could be allocated to fully explore all options in the scope of this re-commissioning activity.  This would ensure any future provision commissioned meets the needs of Torbay’s young people.

This decision will come into force and may be implemented on 3 September 2024 unless the call-in procedure is triggered (as set out in the Standing Orders in relation to Overview and Scrutiny).

Torbay Children’s Services currently commissions a range of supported accommodation options for young people aged 16 – 25 who were cared for, care experienced or at risk of or experiencing homelessness.  In 2020 commissioning and procurement activity successfully awarded block contracts (totalling 60 units across 3 Providers) alongside the development of a 16 plus supported accommodation framework.  The framework includes 6 additional Providers from which individual placements can be purchased.

The block and framework contracts were awarded on a 3-year initial term with the option of a 2-year extension.  These contracts commenced on 1 April 2021 and as of 1 April 2024 an 18-month extension was agreed.  Following the initial stages of the needs analysis process, it had been agreed to utilise the additional 6 months extension period available within the current contracts.  By using the full extension options, the current contracts would now end on 31 March 2026.

In preparation for the contract end date a thorough needs analysis and options appraisal was being finalised.  This activity would inform future commissioning and procurement activity.  This was an essential piece of work to ensure the provision commissioned meets the needs of Torbay’s young people.

It also allowed the Authority to test the market by undertaking an open market procurement where it was felt to be in the best interests of residents and the local authority to test for efficiencies, new models of delivery and innovative practice.

At the meeting Councillor Bye proposed and Councillor Chris Lewis seconded a motion that was agreed unanimously by the Cabinet, as set out above.

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