Agenda item

The Area Council Manager spoke to the report, reminding Members of the workshop held on 19January 2024. Here the performance of all contracted services and those provided under Service Level agreement had been discussed.

For each service, performance to date and the contract end dates had been considered, together with options for the future of the service. With regards to the Welfare Rights and Debt Advice Service, it was recommended that an updated tender specification be used to commission a service at £88,000 per annum, on a one year plus one year basis, subject to an annual review which would consider performance, continued need and the availability of funds.  In addition, should Members approve this recommendation it was suggested that responsibility for any necessary details be delegated to the Executive Director Public Health and Communities following consultation with Members of South Area Council, and that two Members of the Area Council take part in the tender evaluation panel.

With regards to the service to tackle loneliness and isolation, it was suggested that a different model of delivery be explored with £34,000 per annum for two years allocated to a service supporting individuals on a one-to-one basis, signposting to providers and agencies

Should this be approved, it was suggested that, the tender panel should included two elected Members from South Area Council, and that responsibility for the procuring both the service and grant fund to reduce social isolation and loneliness be delegated to the Executive Director Public Health and Communities.

It was proposed that the sevice would be supported with a grant fund to support volunteers, groups and community organisations to tackle loneliness and isolation.

With regards to the SLA to provide Private Sector Housing support, it was suggested that the that this be extended for a further two years at a cost of £46,000 per year.

The recommendation in relation to the contract with District Enforcement to support schools, providing educational support to improve parking around schools was to extend the provision for a further year.

RESOLVED:-

i)             That the advice drop-in service be recommissioned on an updated tender specification, that the tender specification should include the points outlined at 5.4 of the report and be for a value of £88,000 per annum for a one plus one year contract, allowing for an annual review of performance, continued evidence of need and funding availability;

ii)            That responsibility and authority to procure the advice drop-in service in line with a specification agreed by the South Area Council be delegated to the Executive Director Public Health and Communities following consultation with Members of the South Area Council and that two Members take part in the tender process, scoring and sit on the tender interview panel for the procurement;

iii)           That agreement be given to procure a social isolation and loneliness support service, delivering one to one support  based on a new specification with a different model of delivery, with the tender specification including the points outlined at 6.4 of the report, with a maximum contract value of £34,000 per year for a one year plus one year contract allowing for an annual review of performance, the and subject to continued evidence of need and funding availability;

iv)           That responsibility for the procurement of a social isolation and loneliness support service be delegated to the Executive Director Public Health and Communities following consultation with members of South Area Council and that two Members are nominated to take part in the tender process, scoring and sit on the tender interview panel for the procurement;

v)            That approval be given to deliver a social isolation and loneliness grant scheme, which includes the points outlined at 6.4 of the report, and offers support to volunteers, groups, communities and organisations to tackle loneliness and isolation;

vi)           That responsibility to develop and implement a social isolation and loneliness grant scheme in line with the report be delegated to the Executive Director Public Health and Communities following consultation with Members of the South Area Council, and with a total fund value of £30,000;

vii)          That the Private Sector Housing Officer Service Level Agreement be extended for a further two years at a cost of  £46,000 per annum for a two year period from 1st April 2024;

viii)        That the Service Level Agreement with District Enforcement Ltd be extended for one year from the 1st July 2024 at a cost of £6,666 for 5 hours per week supporting schools and providing educational support to improve parking around schools and £24,000 (plus £1740 Barnsley Council Service Level Agreement for administration) for parking enforcement and educational support for hotspot locations identified by the South Area Council.