Agenda item

The Area Manager introduced the item, referring to the Social Inclusion Service currently being delivered by B:Friend.  The service currently cost around £27,000 per year to deliver, supported social groups and provided one-to-one support for social excluded residents aged 65+.  It was acknowledged that the pandemic had further highlighted this as a priority within the area.  In considering options for the service, it was agreed that any future service should relax age restrictions to ensure more residents can benefit from support available.  It was also suggested that the service also ought to target men, who have been underrepresented in interventions so far.

Members were reminded of the previous agreement to extend the Housing and Migration service level agreement until 31^st March, 2022, with discussions taking place within the Safer Neighbourhood Service about future provision.

Since that time discussions had indicated that any core service would be reactive, and that Area Council would be best placed to procure any more proactive service.  It was therefore suggested that the SLA should be extended for a further year.  Members noted that, as part of the discussions,  the Safer Neighbourhood Service had agreed to underwrite any redundancy costs associated with the post.

Members were supportive of the recommendation and acknowledged the impact of the post in the area.

RESOLVED:-

(i)           that the options set out in the report for future Dearne Area Council commissions be noted;

(ii)          that the specification for a Social Inclusion Service be approved and that approval be given to procure this service for three years at a cost of £28,000 per annum, from 1^st August, 2022, to 31^st July 2025;

(iii)        that approval be given to extend the Housing and Migration service level agreement for a further year, until 31^st March, 2023 at a cost of £33,277.