Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

(a)  To agree the minutes from the meeting of Cabinet on 12^th March 2024

(b)  Matters arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 12^th March 2024 were agreed and signed as a true record.

Report of the Director of Health and Wellbeing

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Public Health and Wellbeing, on the reprocurement of Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Services.

The report had also been considered by Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee at their meeting on 11^th April 2024 at which they supported the recommendations to Cabinet. A Briefing Note was circulated that set out the Committee’s recommendation, which the Cabinet accepted:

That Cabinet’s attention be drawn to the following recommendations made to officers:

i)  That officers consider ways of assuring the consultation process and continue to consult throughout the term of the contract.

ii)  That officers provide information detailing how the new contract will improve performance, specifically in terms of opiate users >6 years opiate treatment

iii)  That the new contract ensures that there is capacity to undertake new and innovative approaches

iv)  That officers investigate how best to get feedback from GP’s on the effectiveness of treatment

v)  That officers ensure that data is collected on repeat attendances on treatment programmes

Coventry City Council was responsible for commissioning drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services. The current contract which the Council held for this service was due to expire in March 2025.

National policy in relation to drug and alcohol treatment had changed significantly with the launch of the new drug strategy ‘From Harm to Hope’ which reinforced the Government ambition to rebuild treatment services following a decade of disinvestment.

This report included a summary of the health needs in Coventry that related to drug and alcohol misuse, a summary of the engagement and consultation work carried out and the planned process for re-procurement of drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services.

The report proposed the reprocurement of services via an open tendering process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 introduced by the Health and Care Act 2022 and with the successful bidder commencing service delivery 1st April 2025. The report also summarised some of the funding streams relevant to this procurement and proposed that Cabinet accepted external grants, from which the Council could procure services.

Members requested that officers ensure that a contract performance review is undertaken at the halfway point of the 5 year contract.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:

1)  Approves the recommendations from the Scrutiny Co=ordination Committee.

2)  Agrees to accept the Supplementary Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant/s in 2024/ 2025 and 2025/2026 up to a sum of no more than £2,500,000.

3)  Delegates authority to the Director of Public Health and Wellbeing, following consultation with the Director of Finance and Resources, to enter into the necessary grant funding agreement/s to give effect to Recommendation 2) above.

4)  Approve the commencement of a competitive procurement tender exercise for the provision of Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Services for a period of five years with the option to extend for up to a further four years, for a maximum contract length of 9 years.

5)  Delegate authority to the Director of Public Health and Wellbeing, following consultation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 103.

Report of the Director of Partnerships and Performance

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Partnership and Performance on the proposed academy conversion of Coventry Extended Learning Centre (CELC) and grant of a long lease to Solihull Alternative Provision Multi Academy Trust (SAPMAT). Appendices to the report provided the Wyken ELC site lease plan, the Wyken ELC SSO House site lease plan, and The Herald ELC site lease plan.

Following two Ofsted inspections at the Coventry Extended Learning Centre (CELC), operating on two sites known as Wyken Extended Learning Centre and Herald Extended Learning Centre (“the CELC’s”), in both June 2018 and 2022, which resulted in gradings both times of ‘Requires Improvement’, the CELC was required to academise. The Secretary of State issued the school a Directive Academy Order (DOA) under the Academies Act 2010 (“the 2010 Act”).

Following the DOA being received in March 2023, the Department for Education, City Council, and CELC agreed that the CELC would join the Solihull Alternative Provision Multi Academy Trust (“SAPMAT”) as a sponsored academy and thereafter would cease to be maintained by the Local Authority.

The Local Authority had a statutory duty to provide appropriate education provision for children under Section 14 of the Education Act 1996, to ensure sufficient school places and fair, appropriate access to education.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Skills had delegated authority in respect of academy conversion approvals. However, given the unique nature of the conversion in respect of the requirement for multiple leases, Cabinet approval was sought in order to provide transparency given the context and complexities behind the conversion of Coventry Extended learning Centre.

In order to facilitate the conversation, approval was sought under Schedule 1 of the 2010 Act (as amended by Schedule 14 of the Education Act 2011 ("the 2011 Act")), to grant a 125-year long lease at a peppercorn rental for the land and/or buildings within its ownership that had been wholly or mainly used for the purposes of the school in the period of 8 years ending on the day on which an order was made. A Commercial Transfer Agreement (CTA) would also need to be completed. 

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:

1)  Endorses Coventry Extended Learning Centre’s (CELC) Directive Academy Order to become an academy by joining the Solihull Alternative Provision Multi Academy Trust (MAT).

2)  Delegates authority to the Director of Law and Governance to agree and complete the suite of legal documentation to facilitate the grant of the 125-year long leases in respect of the Wyken ELC, Wyken ELC Site Services Officer (SSO) accommodation and the Herald Extended Learning Centre (ELC) and any necessary Commercial Transfer Agreement (CTA).

3)  Delegates authority to the Director of Partnerships and Performance, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, to agree where necessary any amendments to the legal agreements arising from further consideration by both the Council and Solihull Alternative Provision Multi Academy Trust (MAT).

There are no outstanding issues

There were no outstanding issues.

There were no other items of public business.