Issue details

Summary

This report will ask Cabinet to agree to enter into a section 75 agreement with NHS England for the commissioning of HIV services. This will allow the Council to commission an integrated sexual health service for Medway including provision of contraception and the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections including HIV. 

Access to Information

The report together with any other documents being considered (unless they contain exempt information) will be available for inspection before the decision is taken by the Cabinet. Copies will be available on the Council's website or requested from Democratic Services Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TR or email democratic.services@medway.gov.uk

If you wish to submit information to the Cabinet about the item please also contact Democratic Services.

It is noted that the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements)(Meetings and Access to Information)(England) Regulations 2012 requires 28 clear days’ notice of the intention to make a key decision. On this occasion it has not been possible to provide this 28 clear days’ notice, however, it was not possible to comply with section 10 (General Exception) of the above regulations.

In these circumstances, section 11 (Cases of Special Urgency) of the above regulations must be complied with:

(i)                  It was not possible to include this report on the Forward Plan with 28 days’ notice as the necessary arrangements to enter into a section 75 agreement with NHS England had not been concluded.

(ii)                Delaying the approval of the Section 75 agreement until the next Cabinet meeting (mid June) will cause a delay in the tender process for the commissioning of an integrated sexual health service, which in turn would leave the new premises for the delivery of these services unoccupied at the Council’s expense.

The Chairman of the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee has agreed that the proposed decision is urgent and cannot reasonably be deferred for the reasons set out above.