Purpose

This report seeks approval to award contract
DN771595 following a procurement exercise for Domestic Abuse Safe
Accommodation services for 3 Lots (Lot 1: women with children, Lot
2: women with no children and Lot 3: men, including men with
children) to YMCA Together following a procurement exercise in line
with Contract Standing Orders

Decision

For the reasons set out in this report, the
Corporate Director has decided to:
 
1)   
Approve the award of the contract DN771595 for Domestic
Abuse Safe Accommodation Services, 3 Lots, following of a
competitive procurement process to the successful bidder as
identified in Appendix 1 for a period of twelve-months from 1st
September 2025 to 31st August 2026, with an option to
extend these contracts for up to two further twelve-month extension
periods, for a value of up to £1,000,000 per annum (excluding
VAT) using funds from the Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Grant
(previously referred to as ‘new burdens
funding’).

Alternative options considered

1.1         
To not award the contract for Safe Accommodation services. This
option was dismissed, as awarding the contracts, which would
provide 66 units of safe accommodation is likely to place the
Council in breach of its legal obligations regarding the provision
of domestic abuse support and safe accommodation as per the
Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
 
1.2         
This option would also place the Council at risk of additional
pressure on the Temporary Accommodation budget as the services are
providing significant support to maintain victim survivors in
alternative accommodation.