Issue - items at meetings - Procurement of an outreach service for people rough sleeping

Report of Executive Director, Neighbourhoods, Communities & Housing

        The Committee grants delegated authority to the Executive Director of Health & Adult Social Care (HASC) to take all necessary steps to:

(i)         procure and award a contract for five (5) years for the provision of a 7 day per week street outreach service for rough sleepers subject to Policy & Resources Committee decision on allocations and resources;

(ii)        with the potential for adding the staffing and management of severe weather provision for rough sleepers;

(iii)       to approve an extension to the contract referred to in 2.1(i) for a period or periods of up to two years in total if it is deemed appropriate by the Housing Committee and subject to available budget; and

(iv)      to report back to Housing Committee annually the progress and outcomes of this service.

35.1        The Committee considered the report presented by Jenny Knight.

35.2        The report sought the approval of the Housing Committee for a competitive procurement, by tender, for a contract for the provision of a rough sleeping street outreach service in Brighton & Hove.

35.3        This is an assertive outreach service to engage with people rough sleeping in the city, to carry out comprehensive assessments, to assess support needs and local connection and move rough sleepers into accommodation. This is the only service we commission which is demand driven. There is no cap on the number of people the service works with. The current contract with St Mungos is in place until 30th September 2020.

35.4        This report was presented at Procurement Advisory Board on 14th October 2019, where approval was given for the paper to be referred to Housing Committee for a decision. Additional information requested by PAB has been included in the report.

35.5        Councillor Mary Mears noted that the Green / Labour amendment removed the financial information attached to the 2.1 (i) recommendation and this would be needed in order to make a decision on the amendment. As it stood, Councillor Mears would be unable to vote on the amendment.

35.6        Councillor Amy Heley commented as the proposer of the amendment, with Councillor Nichole Brennan, that the Policy & Resources Committee report would have the costs information and P&R Committee would make the final decision.

35.7        A vote was held on the recommendations and the proposed amendments:

(i) procure and award a contract for five (5) years for the provision of a 7 day per week street outreach service for rough sleepers subject to Policy & Resources Committee decision on allocations and resources;

7 For and 2 Abstentions.

(ii)    with the potential for adding the staffing and management of severe weather provision for rough sleepers;

7 For and 2 Abstentions.

(iii)   to approve an extension to the contract referred to in 2.1(i) for a period or periods of up to two years in total if it is deemed appropriate by the Housing Committee and subject to available budget; and

7 For and 2 Abstentions.

(iv)   to report back to Housing Committee annually the progress and outcomes of this service.

7      For and 2 Abstentions.

35.8        The recommendations and amendments were accepted by a majority vote.

35.9        Resolved: The Committee grants delegated authority to the Executive Director of Health & Adult Social Care (HASC) to take all necessary steps to:

(i)      procure and award a contract for five (5) years for the provision of a 7 day per week street outreach service for rough sleepers’ subject to Policy & Resources Committee decision on allocations and resources;

(ii)    with the potential for adding the staffing and management of severe weather provision for rough sleepers;

(iii)   to approve an extension to the contract referred to in 2.1(i) for a period or periods of up to two years in total if it is deemed appropriate by the Housing Committee and subject to available budget; and

(iv)   to report back to Housing Committee annually the progress and outcomes of this service.