Purpose

Contract variation to further
extend the current contract whilst concluding mobilisation of the
new contract and minor variations to the new contract regarding
rents and a slight reduction in bedspaces.
 

Decision

The Director of Planning and Property
approves: 
 

To note Appendices 2-6 are not for
publication on the basis that they contain information relating to
the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding
that information) as set out in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the
Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).  

 

The rent for four Council-owned
properties due to be used as SIL for young people, the details of
which are set out in Exempt Appendix 2. 

 
The Director of Commissioning and
Transformation approves: 
 

The variation of the current
contract with Centrepoint Soho, for the provision of
semi-independent living (SIL) services for young people for up to a
further three months under the current contract terms, at a total
cost of approximately £389,410. 

 
The Executive Director of Place
approves: 
 

The extension of the existing
Housing Management Agreement (HMA) for three other Council owned
properties, up to a total revenue cost of £45,369. 

 
The Executive Director of People
approves: 
 

A variation to the contract award
for the provision of SIL services (approved in December 2024) to
reduce the number of bedspaces by nine, bringing the total
bedspaces to 124.

 

Reasons for the decision

1.    
The purpose of SIL services is to provide young people with a
supportive home within their local community whilst they build a
range of life skills to enable them to make a successful transition
to living independently when they feel ready to do
so.  
 

2.    
Both Children’s Services and Housing have statutory duties to
provide sufficient accommodation to meet the needs of care
experienced young people and young people at risk of homelessness.
Commissioning a SIL block contract ensures that we have access to
high-quality in-borough SIL accommodation for this cohort, with
improved access to local services, family and community networks,
and at lower cost than out-of-borough spot-purchased
alternatives.  
 

3.    
Given the strategic importance of the SIL contract, it is not
possible to have a gap in service provision once the current
contract ends, and any gap would be extremely disruptive to the
young people currently living in local SIL services. As such, an
extension of the current arrangements for a short, time limited
period is therefore recommended to ensure continuity of provision
whilst the issues with the long-term contract are resolved. Minor
variations to the proposed rents and number of bedspaces under the
new contract are also recommended to ensure the ongoing viability
of the contract. 
 

Alternative options considered

Proposals and Analysis of
Options?? 

Option 1 – Approve the
proposals outlined in this paper (recommended) 

 
Agreeing the rents
and extending the current arrangements will ensure we are able to
proceed with mobilising the new contract whilst ensuring continuity
of provision. In addition, reducing the number of bedspaces under
the new contract is necessary given that the building is due to be
handed back. 

Option 2 – Do not approve
the proposals outlined in this paper (not
recommended) 

 
Not approving the proposals is not recommended as this would result
in there either being a non-regularised arrangement with the
current provider, or a gap in provision which would be extremely
disruptive for young people and costly for the local
authority.