Agenda item

The Area Council Manager introduced this item, which followed on from discussion at the previous meeting.

Members were referred to Section 4 of the report which outlined the progress made towards the recommissioning of the existing projects referred to in Section 3.2 of the report with specific reference to the One Stop Shop Advice Sessions; the Tidy Team and Tidy Team Apprentices; the Summer Internship Programme and the Environmental Enforcement Contract.

Members discussed the funding arrangements currently in place and the Area Manager made specific reference to waivers obtained to enable contracts to be extended, where appropriate.  As Area Council funding was currently only confirmed until March 2017, certain contracts due to be recommissioned mid-year could not go out to tender for less than twelve months.  For the One Stop Shop advice sessions contract, which currently ran to June 2016, a waiver had been granted to March 2017 which would them allow a recommissioning of the service from 2017 if Area Council funds were confirmed.  The Tidy Team contract currently ran to August 2016 and it was possible that a waiver to March 2017 may be granted nearer to the time for the same reason, if future Area Council funding was still unclear.

Particular reference was also made to the Summer Internship Programme which was currently being recommissioned for the 2016 summer cohort.  Shortlisting for this had already been completed and interviews with the top 3 applicants would be completed in January, to give the appointed provider adequate time to access schools and to source placements for work experience.

RESOLVED that the progress towards the recommissioning of existing commissioned projects as outlined within Section 4 of the report be noted.