Purpose

Open Housing is an Integrated Housing
Management software solution provided by Capita Services. The
system was implemented May 2008 and has undergone a considerable
amount of development and integration work. Any long-term future
decision needs to consider the impact on several other systems,
such as “Firmstep”, Advance (JM), Jigsaw, and any
future Asset management and compliance system.

The decision to renew a contract with Capita services for a further
4 years will allow sufficient time for the council to review all
Housing systems holistically and plan a move to a SaaS offering.
Consideration also needs to be given to areas that have become
fragmented, to assess whether they should now be reintegrated back
into a single core system.

If an exemption is not approved, Sandwell will have no Housing
Management system contract in place beyond March 2025. To undertake
a full ITT process, award and implement a solution of this
magnitude before March 2025, whilst considering fully, the impact
on other systems and all stakeholders, will not be
achievable.

ITICA are engaged to undertake a full review, and the outcome and
recommendations are expected within the next 6-9 months.

Content

(1) That a contract be awarded under the KCS
framework to Capita Services for a period of 4years, to commence 1
April 2025 at a value of £656,600 (4yrs). Capita services to
provide the Housing Management software application which is to
include database administration standard support.

(2) That any necessary exemptions be made under the Council’s
Procurement & Contract Procedure Rules to enable the course of
action referred to in (1) above to proceed.