Decision details

This paper seeks a 12-month extension to the contract for the provision of general advice services. These services are currently provided by Citizens Advice Medway.

Relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Health and Adult Social Care

96/2009 The Cabinet agreed the proposed formal one-year extension period of the service contract provided by Citizens Advice Medway to allow for a competitive process to be undertaken in line with the contract rules.

This extension is necessary to enable a competitive recommissioning process to be undertaken in order to secure best value and to understand the requirements of key stakeholders for a future contract. In addition this extension will enable other less formal arrangements with Citizens Advice Medway, for the housing debt advice and court desk service to be aligned with this process so that these can be commissioned at the same time.This extension will allow time for the development of service specifications that will form the basis of new contracts for general advice and housing debt and court desk services for the next three years.