Content

Notice of Executive
Decision

Published in Accordance with
The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access
to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 (“the
Regulations”)

 

Title:

Recommissioning of Specialist
Information and Advice Services

Key?

Yes

Urgent?

No

Decision Maker:

Portfolio Lead Member for Health and
Adults

Decision Date:

Wednesday 26 February 2025

Published:

Wednesday 26 February 2025

For Call-in?

Yes

Call-in Expiry:

Wednesday 5 March 2025

 

Purpose:

Information, Advice and
Guidance (IAG) enables residents to access expertise and be
supported to make more informed decisions about improving their
lives and opportunities.  The core IAG
contract in Waltham Forest is delivered by Citizens Advice Waltham
Forest (CAWF). This contract is due for recommissioning which has
given us an opportunity to review the model and offer.
 
An options appraisal has
identified that CAWF are the only provider equipped to deliver the
core IAG service in the Borough and it is
therefore proposed that a contract should be awarded CAWF to
deliver this service.  The proposed
contract will be for 3 years with an option to extend for a further
2 years, with a value £393,975 a year.

Decision Taken:

I, the Portfolio Lead Member for Health and Adults,
hereby approve the award of a contract to
Citizens Advice Waltham Forest (CAWF) from 1 April 2025
for the period of three years with the option to extend for up
to a further two years for the provision of information and
advice.

 

And I have instructed the
proper officer to publish this written record of my
decision.

Reason:

As set out in the
report.

Alternative Options Considered:

To reach the recommended
proposal, the below alternative options were also
considered.
 
Option 1: Do
nothing
 
This would mean ending the IAG
contract provided by the Council. The benefits of this would be a
saving for the Council.
 
However, the risk of doing
nothing to recommission the IAG contract would be significantly
reducing the capacity of IAG delivery in the Borough. Many
residents would be unable to access direct support which helps
prevent the escalation of crisis. The result of this could be more
residents in challenging situations and requiring more support from
the Council and wider public services. IAG can also support
individuals and the local area financially through maximising
income. There is little capacity without the core IAG contract for
IAG delivery to continue in Borough.
 
Option 2: Open
procurement for a core provider.

 
DOCUMENTS
All relevant documents must be published at
least five clear days before the meeting, unless the proper officer
agrees some or all of the documents contain exempt or confidential
information, as defined by the Regulations.

List of
documents to be submitted to the
Decision-Maker1:

As per the agenda
pack.

Details
of any exempt2 or confidential
information3:

Open

Background Papers Used:

None

 

Conflicts of interest declared by any executive
member consulted by the decision-maker:
 

None.

Dispensations granted in respect of above conflicts
of interest:

Not applicable

 
 

 
 
 

Signed
__________________________________________
Portfolio Lead Member – Health and
Adults
 
 
Date______________________________26 February
2025
 
 
1 Nothing in the Regulations
authorises or requires documents relating to that decision to be
disclosed to the public, or made available for public inspection
where the documents contain confidential information or where the
disclosure of the documents would give rise to the disclosure of
exempt information or the advice of a political adviser or
assistant. (Regulations 20(3)(a) and (b))
2 “Exempt information”
has the meaning given by section 100I of the Local Government Act
1972 (exempt information and power to vary Schedule 12A)
(Regulation 2)
3 “Confidential
information” means information provided to the local
authority by a government department on terms
(however expressed) which forbid the
disclosure of the information to the public; or information the
disclosure of which to the public is prohibited by or under any
enactment or by the order of a court, and in either case, a
reference to the obligation of confidence is to be construed
accordingly” (Regulation 2).