Purpose

Procurement of a block contract for the provision of residential children's homes and education facility through a cross regional arrangement

Decision

The Leader:

·         APPROVED Buckinghamshire Council participating as a partner authority in the recommissioning of the Cross Regional Project (CRP) for residential, education and therapeutic placements and delegate to the Corporate Director for Children’s Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services and the Section 151 Officer, the authority to enter into a Pre?partnership Agreement for the procurement phase.

·         APPROVED the re-tender of the CRP contract, to be led by Oxfordshire County Council, to ensure continued access to block-contracted placements beyond the current contract end date of 31 July 2027.

·         AGREED to Buckinghamshire Council increasing its bed capacity from six to eight beds through the new contract.

·         DELEGATED authority to the Corporate Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services and the Section 151 Officer, to approve the contract award as recommended by the lead authority and to agree the Contract Management Agreement which will set out how the partnership of local authorities will work together to manage the contract.