Purpose

Cabinet is recommended to:
 

(1) 
Approve the proposal to directly award a new five
year contract to the incumbent substance misuse provider, CGL,
using the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Regulations
2023;
 

(2) 
Note progress and approach in protecting our communities from
alcohol and drug related harm, delivered through the Combating
Drugs Partnership.
 
 

Content

Cabinet:

(1)         
noted the approach and progress of the Strategic
Partnership Boards’ priority to protect communities from
alcohol and drug related harm through the Combating Drugs
Partnership; and

(2)         
endorsed the proposed award of a new five-year
contract to the incumbent drug and alcohol service provider, Change
Grow Live (CGL), using the Provider Selection Regime Direct Award
option, which is provided for under the Health and Care Act
2022.

 
Options & Alternatives
Considered
Officers considered three other procurement options:
Option 1: Do nothing
There are no advantages for this option. Doing nothing is
disadvantageous as it means the Council would fail to fulfil its
statutory requirement to commission alcohol and substance use
services for our population and would mean that people who use
drugs and/or alcohol would not have access to services which would
leave vulnerable people without vital support. This object was
rejected.
 
Option 2: Bring service
in-house 
This
option would have the potential for swift integration with other
areas of the council, that may otherwise take time to
build.
 
However, the cost of this option is prohibitive and would be a
highly unusual step for a Local Authority to take.  This option was rejected.

 

Option 3: Full tender process
This
option has the potential to stimulate the market and provides
alternative modelling options for commissioners. 
 
However, it would risk destabilising the existing provider
workforce and would have a negative effect on well established,
well-functioning strategic and operational partnerships. It would
also take considerable time and resource of officers to run a
competitive process. On that basis this option was also
rejected.