Purpose

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member
for Adult Social Care and Public Health seeking approval to award a
contract for Southampton Early Advice and Support (SEAS) which
brings together several voluntary sector early help and
preventative services.

Decision

(i) 
Subject to Council approval below, to approve recommissioning the
contract and grants set out in the report for Southampton Early
Advice and Support service following a procurement under the
Competitive Flexible Procedure of the Procurement Act 2023.
(ii) 
To delegate authority to the Executive Director for Community
Wellbeing, Children & Learning, following consultation with the
relevant Cabinet Member, to authorise the award of a contract for
the Southampton Early Advice and Support service to the highest
scoring bidder and to take all actions required to effect the
proposals in the report.

Reasons for the decision

The Council has a statutory requirement to
prevent or delay the development of needs for care and support and
a general duty to provide advice and information on care and
support available. The current contracts and grants designed to
fulfil these duties end on 31st March 2026 and need to be
recommissioned to ensure continued provision.
Following extensive engagement with the
Voluntary, Community & Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector as well
as those who use services, the alliance approach to commissioning
the service has been established as likely to be the most effective
in establishing a strong preventative service for Southampton
residents. This is based on the local engagement which highlighted
the importance of building upon existing alliance-type approaches
which are delivering effectively already as well as utilising the
LGA’s toolkit for commissioning and providing information and
advice services.
 
Delegated authority in advance of contract
award is being sought as the Council meeting schedule is such that
a decision following completion of the procurement process does not
align with the required mobilisation period for the new
contract.

Alternative options considered

The Council has a statutory duty to prevent or
delay the development of needs for care and support and a general
duty to provide advice and information on care and support
available. Recommissioning these services individually, as happens
now, has been considered but rejected as it will not enable the
transformation needed to maximise the preventative opportunities
from bringing organisations together.
 
Seeking authority to award the contract
following completion of the procurement process is not recommended
as this would require further extension of existing contracts. All
existing contracts have reached the end of their maximum allowable
term, therefore, further extension of these would breach the
Council’s Contract Procedure Rules.