Issue - meetings

Background:

This report provided details of progress with the Learning Disability Care Services Contract currently delivered by multiple providers. The report sought permission to extend the contract for residential and nursing care by 12 months to 31 March 2013, and to include a variation to the current contract terms and conditions for the same period.

It was noted that the commencement and delivery of this service pre-dated the establishment of a Procurement Board for Medway Council and no previous Gateway reports were available.

This report had been approved for submission to the Cabinet after review and discussion at the Children and Adult Directorate Management Team meeting on 2 February 2012 and Strategic Procurement Board on 15 February 2012.

An exempt appendix provided key information in respect of finance and whole-life costing, providers and an efficiencies spreadsheet.

Reasons:

The extension of the Learning Disability Care Services contracts will allow for the continuation of a successful and necessary service.  It will also allow officers additional time to prepare for the restructuring of the service post March 2013 to ensure further continuity, service improvements and potential cost savings. The contract variation and inclusion of the Care Funding Calculator tool will ensure that for the remaining twelve-month period the service is operating with improved efficiencies. The additional twelve-month period will also allow for more robust analysis of the operation of the Calculator and its possible future use.