Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Committee considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) that sought approval to re-commission homeless services in Coventry.

Existing service arrangements were currently managed across several separate contracts with St Basil’s and Midland Heart currently providing services for 18-24 year old singles (excluding rough sleepers and ex-offenders) and all other homeless related services (including rough sleepers and ex-offenders) delivered by the Salvation Army. These current contract arrangements end on the 31st March 2019.

The report sought approval to retender for the city’s homelessness services within a framework of principles and key requirements. It was proposed to split this across three ‘lots’ covering: Young Adults (aged 18-24); Adults and couples without dependent children aged 25+ (including rough sleepers, ex-offenders and those with multiple complex needs); and Families (including pregnant couples/ singles).

Since the existing contracts were let in 2014, demands on the city’s homelessness services had increased significantly. This was particularly true for families as well as individuals who required support for multiple complex needs. This had placed substantial pressure on existing services and finances. There was therefore a need to review how services were provided going forward, especially for families and the principles and requirements of the new service highlighted those changes.

In summary these would include:

•  A greater emphasis on support programmes for families with responsibility for accommodation and placements controlled fully by the Council;

•  An enhancement in training and education services with a specific focus on households being tenancy ready and tenancy sustainment;

•  The delivery of a new easily accessible hub service that could provide drop in support and a one stop shop for homeless services across multiple agencies;

•  A specific emphasis on working productively with the Council and other partners to support homeless individuals and rough sleepers to address issues of substance miss-use, especially in public places with a view to exploring a fully supported and dedicated facility.

•  A greater focus on on-going support and crisis management even after duty had been discharged. This was with a view to preventing re-presentation;

•  Diversify the provision of direct access and supported accommodation including making provision for a female only facility.

Due to the substantial changes in homelessness services brought about by increased demand and the introduction of the Homelessness Reduction Act there was a need to undertake further work and research around how the details of future service provision would operate. This was expected to include a change to how the Council provided services, especially to families and the provision of temporary and emergency accommodation. As a result, the tender process for the new service was expected to be published at the end of October 2019 with a view to awarding a new contract in January 2020. 

As a result, this report also sought delegated authority to negotiate a twelve month extension period with existing service providers to ensure a continuation of services was maintained to the city’s most vulnerable households whilst the procurement exercise was undertaken. This was considered a necessary step to help manage risk, especially given the importance of the service area and vulnerability of households involved.

The delivery of new services as well as the short term extension of existing services would require extensive joint working across a wide range of council departments and service areas. It would also require a continuation and expansion of partnership working opportunities across the city through the Coventry Homelessness Forum and other relevant project groups and partnership boards.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1)  Approves the commencement of a procurement process (in accordance with the Public Contract Regulations)  to secure a delivery partner(s) for the homelessness services offer, as outlined in paragraph 1.4 of the report, subject to the cost of the contract being in line with current budget commitments.

2)  Following the completion of the procurement process, delegates authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (People), following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, to award a contract for a period of up to 5 years to the preferred suppliers together with the option to extend for a further 2 years subject to satisfactory performance and budget availability.

3)  Approves in principle the extension of the existing services beyond 31st March 2019 to allow for more time to complete the tendering activity as a result of the complexity of the process, subject to such contract extensions not being for more than 12 months.

4)  Delegates authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (People,) following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, to finalise the twelve month extension of existing services beyond the 31st March 2019 with the cost of the extensions in line with current budget commitments.