Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Children’s Social Care and Education

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Children’s Social Care and Education seeking to agree the procurement of semi-independent living placements (SaILs) for young people (aged 16+) for the period September 2019 to March 2020 via the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) hosted by Tameside Council, and to authorise the procurement for such services beyond April 2020 via the new North West Regional Flexible Purchasing System (FPS) hosted by Bolton Council.

Decision Made:      That

(1)      approval be granted for Sefton Council to continue to purchase SaILs placements from the Tameside hosted DPS, for the period 1October 2019 to 31 March 2020;

(2)      the Director of Children’s Social Care and Education be authorised to participate in the development and procurement of the North West Regional FPS for supported and independent living placements for young people age 16+, to be hosted by Bolton Council, scheduled to commence 1^st April 2020 to replace the current DPS;

(3)      the Director of Children’s Social Care and Education be authorised to continue to purchase SaILs placements from theBolton hosted FPS from 1^st April 2020 for the duration of the FPS, providing the procurement is compliant with Sefton’s Contract Procedure Rules;

(4)      that should it be identified that the purchasing systems do not meet Sefton’ requirements, that delegated authority be granted to the Director of Children’s Social Care and Education to conduct individual procurement exercises as and when required and be granted delegated authority to award contracts following such exercises.

Reasons for the Decision:

To ensure that the Council continues to have in place robust mechanisms to procure Semi-Independent Residential Placements (SaILs) for Young People age 16+.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The Local Authority carrying out its own EU compliant tender exercise to put its own FPS in place was considered and rejected having considered the benefits and strengths of a regional approach.