Decision

i.)  Proceed to issuing Transparency Notices for each of the following proposed block contracts to notify the intent to proceed to award of contract for a one-year contract with the option to extend for two periods of one year each (1+1+1) at the contract values set out in the accompanying Part 2 report:

-  Burrows House (Gold Care) for 10 nursing beds

-  Priory Mew (RMB Healthcare) for 10 residential and nursing beds

-  Coloma Court (HMT) for 5 nursing beds

-  Mission Care for 21 residential and nursing beds.

ii.)  Subject to the outcome of the Transparency Notices, delegate authority to the Chief Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adult, Care & Health, the Assistant Director Governance & Contracts, the Director of Finance and the Director of Corporate Services, to proceed to Contract Award for each contract.

iii.)  Subject to Contract Award, delegate authority to the Chief Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adult, Care & Health, the Assistant Director Governance & Contracts, the Director of Finance and the Director of Corporate Services, to apply the two one-year extension options in due course.

Reasons for the decision

The proposed conversion of spot arrangements into block contracts represents a pragmatic and financially stable approach to securing essential nursing and residential care capacity across a portfolio of incumbent providers. It balances cost control, service continuity and operational efficiency, while retaining flexibility through spot purchasing where required. Approval will enable the Council to stabilise provision in a pressured market, realise measurable benefits and better meet current and anticipated demand.