Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People)

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People), which set out proposals for the recommissioning of housing related support services.

Following extensive engagement with key stakeholders, the report made recommendations as to the requirements for the commissioned housing related support services, which would be effective from April 2020 to March 2025.

The Council’s Housing and Homelessness Strategy (2019-24) set out Coventry’s ambitious agenda and how through the four pillars of prevention, support for people, improved accommodation and greater housing supply, the council aims to tackle homelessness and continue to create a city fit for today and future generations.

In relation to prevention and support for homeless households, adopting the positive pathways approach to the delivery of services for people in housing need in Coventry was recommended.  The key aim would be to ensure that the newly commissioned services were not only focussed on the delivery of services to households in crisis, but that prevention work would be fundamental in the delivery of these services.

The report indicated that the existing service arrangements were managed across several separate contracts with St Basils and Midland Heart currently providing services for 18-24 year old single people (excluding rough sleepers and ex-offenders) and all other homeless related services (including ex-offenders and rough sleepers) delivered by the Salvation Army.  The current contract arrangements with the Salvation Army were due to end on 31^st March 2019.  A contract extension was negotiated with the Salvation Army until 31^st March 2020.  Talks were currently taking place with St Basils to look at extending their current arrangements until the new provision is in place.  In total the current annual value of the contracts is £2.3m.

It was recommended that, to deliver housing centred support, there be four separate contracts commissioned in relation to complex needs including ex-offender provision; family floating support, young people’s provision; and housing related floating support.  Within these, there would be some specific elements that address the different stages within the positive pathway model.  These contracts had been identified to meet the needs of adults with complex needs, older single people (25 years +), young people (18-24 years), and families.

Although the report also recommended that the contract be awarded for a period of up to 5 years with the option to extend for a further 2 years, the Deputy Chief Executive (People) indicated that it was now proposed that this be amended to award a contract for 3 years to the preferred suppliers together with the option to extend for a further 2 years + 2 years, subject to satisfactory performance and budget availability.

RESOLVED that, the Cabinet:

1.  Approve to commission Housing Related Support Services as set out in Option 4 in Section 2.4 of the report submitted.

2.  Approve the proposed contract make-up for the housing related support services as set out in paragraphs 2.4.2 to 2.4.5 of the report submitted.

3.  Delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Transformation to commence the Housing Related Support Services tender process with the new contracts being put in place by 1^st April 2020.

4.  Following the completion of the procurement process, delegated authority be given to the Director of Housing and Transformation and the Director of Finance and Corporate Services, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, to undertake the necessary due diligence, finalise the terms and conditions and award a contract for a period of up to 3 years to the preferred suppliers together with the option to extend for a further 2 years plus 2 years, subject to the satisfactory performance and budget availability.

5.  Delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Transformation, following consultation with the Director of Finance and Corporate Services and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Transformation, to make variations to the terms of the contracts over the life of the contract term.