Purpose

This report seeks approval to extend the
Council’s existing Memorandum of Understanding between
Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner and Liverpool City Council
for the provision of Child Exploitation Support and Missing from
Home and Care Services for a further 24-month period commencing 1st
April 2025 – 31st March 2027. The costs associated with the
contract extension is £168,423.00 per annum excluding
VAT.

Decision

For the reasons set out in this report, the
Corporate Director has decided to:
 
1)   
Extend the Council’s Memorandum of Understanding between PCC
and the council for the provision of Child Exploitation Support and
Missing from Home services (which are also known as “Return
Home Interviews”) from 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2027 on
existing terms and conditions outlined in the Memorandum of
Understanding between the PCC and the Council dated 03 June
2024.

Alternative options considered

1.1         
Doing nothing or continuing with the Council’s current
approach to RHIs would not align with current statutory guidance
and could result in the Council failing to meet its duties in this
regard. An alternative option is to re-procure the service and
undertake a competitive procurement exercise. This option has been
discounted as this would be resource intensive.