Issue - meetings

Background:

The Cabinet agreed to accept this report as urgent due to the existing IFA contract ending on 31 January 2022 (with an additional 2-month extension in place to bring in line with financial year), and the procurement timeline for mobilisation of a new contract from 1 April 2022, timely decisions were required to the options outlined in the report. This would ensure that the Council’s governance processes and timelines were also adhered without delays in the contract award.

This report requested Cabinet agreement to commence the procurement of the Medway and Kent Independent Fostering Framework. The report had been considered by the Procurement Board on 18 August 2021, with the Board having approved the commissioning, subject to the agreement of the Cabinet.

The exempt appendix to the report set out financial analysis in respect of this procurement project.

Reasons:

Procurement of the Medway and Kent Framework for Independent Fostering is essential to continuously ensure value for money through the placement process and to meet the Council’s statutory responsibility.