Decision Maker: Executive

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: January 9, 2025

Purpose: To authorise the Strategic Director for Finance in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Finance and Property to enter into of a contract framework to supply temporary agency staff (temporary contractors, interims, agency workers) for a period of up to two years.

Content: Decision: To authorise the Strategic Director of Finance and Resources, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Finance and Property, to enter into a contract with Comensura via the ESPO MSTAR4 framework to supply temporary agency staff (temporary contractors, interims, agency workers for a period of up to two years with a contract value of up to £8,000,000. Reasons: 1.        The council is currently reviewing its temporary staff spend and is taking a number of actions to reduce the cost of temporary staff, notably, interims/contractors and how we source them. 2.        These actions include consolidating spend at the council, so that we have more of the council’s required external workforce appointed via Comensura, which will give the council lower margins, and a single point of all information on external staff therefore helping to manage costs better. 3.        Additionally, the costs for changing the existing supplier via a tender, may deliver a small benefit of a reduction in costs (less than £36,000) over the next 18 months. The cost of this change is considered greater than the savings along with the disruption. In addition, tendering now would rule out any collaboration with WBC. 4.        The contract rates will be the same rates as the council currently pays now with Comensura. Other options considered and rejected by the Executive: 1.        Re-tender – taking 6 months, plus considerable HR and Procurement resources. 2.        Do nothing – the council would continue to be in a non-contracted spend position and therefore have spend non-compliant as not procured under contract in accordance with Public Contract Regulations 2015 (PCR15). Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted: None.