Purpose

The
report seeks to clarify procurement arrangements for specified services to
enable continuation of service delivery.

Content

(a)   
That Cabinet approves the budget and funding
allocations to procurements within Appendix 1 and delegates authority to the
Executive Director of People – Children’s, in consultation with the Cabinet
Member for Children’s Services, Education & Skills and the Corporate
Director Finance & Commercial / Chief Financial Officer & S151 officer
to procure and award contracts, or release agreed funding to third parties
delivering services, for any procurement within Cabinet approved Appendix 1
provided the cost is contained within the Children’s Services budget..

 

(b)   
That the re-opening of the existing, previously
approved procurement framework to support ongoing commissioning activity within
Children’s Services, without the requirement of further Cabinet approval of
openings, be approved.

 

(c)   
That Cabinet notes that these frameworks had
already been formally established in line with procurement regulations and
governance procedures.

 

Independent
non maintained special school and specialist post 16 placements.

 

(d)   
That Cabinet notes that the arrangements for
securing placements at independent non maintained special schools and
specialist post 16 providers which was operated in accordance with the Special
Educational Needs & Disability (SEND) Scheme of Delegation (as set out in paragraph
3.6 of the Cabinet report of 3 March 2026).

 

Reason for the decision

 

To draw together several previous delegations against
individual Children’s Services budgets to ensure consistency of approach and to
ensure appropriate oversight and authority was in place to allow sufficient
services to be procured to meet the needs of children and young people.