Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1) Summary of Decision Area

1.1. Seek approval to tender for the 24/7 joint housing support and social care provision for the Andover and Gosport Extra-Care Housing schemes.

1.2. Agree the anticipated maximum annual costs of the contracts to be tendered for joint housing support and social care contracts for two new-build Extra-Care Housing schemes in Hampshire; one in Andover (Salisbury Road) and the other in Gosport (Cunningham Drive).

2) Issues Covered in Report

2.1. On 27 September 2007 Cabinet approved the Adult Services Extra-Care Housing Strategy. This included the strategic aim of securing through multi-agency partnerships a total of 400 units of Extra-Care housing over the next five years, of which 200 units will be achieved from developing new-build Extra-Care Housing schemes, and 200 through enhancing existing sheltered accommodation.

2.2. The contracts for the provision of joint housing support and social care for all of the schemes will be tendered. The request to tender for the other two new-build Extra-Care and for the enhanced Extra-Care schemes is planned for submission for Executive Decision on 11 September 2009.

2.3. The completion dates of the Andover (Salisbury Road) and Gosport (Cunningham Drive) new-build Extra-Care schemes have been brought forward to September 2010 and October 2010 respectively. There is therefore a requirement to tender for the social care and support services for these schemes outside of the tendering for the other Extra-Care schemes (planned for 11 September 2009 Executive Decision Day).

2.4. In order to meet the legal requirements, laid down in the EU Procurement Directives and Hampshire County Council standing orders, it is necessary to tender for the provision of these contracts. The length of each contract will be 3 years, with the option to extend each contract by an additional 2 years.

3) Recommendations

It is recommended that:

3.1. The Executive Member for Adult Services endorses the decision to tender for the provision of 24-hour care and support for two new-build Extra-Care Housing schemes in Hampshire; one in Andover (Salisbury Road) and the other in Gosport (Cunningham Drive).

3.2. The length of each contract will be 3 years, with the option to extend each contract by an additional 2 years.

3.3. The anticipated maximum annual cost of the contracts to be tendered for the Andover and Gosport new-build Extra-Care developments is agreed as set out in Appendix C (Confidential).

MAIN REPORT

1. Contextual Information

1.1. On 18 December 2006 Cabinet approved the Adult Services Department Modernisation Strategy.

1.2. On 24 September 2007 Cabinet approved the Adult Services Development of Extra-Care Housing Report. This included Hampshire County Council's strategic aim of securing through multi-agency partnerships a total of 400 units of Extra-Care Housing over five years (2008-2013). It was anticipated that 200 of these would be within new-build Extra-Care developments and 200 would result from enhancing existing sheltered housing schemes.

1.3. The Andover and Gosport new-build Extra-Care developments are integral to the delivery of these 400 units of Extra-Care Housing. Respectively, the Andover and Gosport developments will provide 52 and 50 units of Extra-Care Housing.

1.4. The Extra-Care project is a key enabler of Adult Services delivering the following key National Indicators (NIs):
- NI 136 (People supported to live independently through social services [all ages])
- NI 139 (The extent to which older people receive the support they need to live independently at home)
- NI 142 (% of vulnerable people who are supported to maintain independent living)

1.5. The European Union (EU) Procurement Directives (current regulations 31 January 2006), and Hampshire County Council Standing Orders require that public procurement must be based on value for money which should be achieved through competition, i.e. a tender process, unless there are compelling reasons to the contrary.

2. Key Issues

2.1. The completion dates of the Andover (Salisbury Road) and Gosport (Cunningham Drive) new-build Extra-Care schemes have been brought forward to September 2010 and October 2010 respectively. Initially, it was anticipated that the completion date for both these schemes would be November 2010, and they would be tendered with the rest of the Extra-Care schemes. There is therefore a requirement to tender for the social care and support services for these schemes outside of the tendering for the other Extra-Care schemes (planned for 11 September 2009 Executive Decision Day).

2.2. The provision of the care and support services is a pre-requisite to residents moving in to the accommodation.

2.3. Lessons learnt from tendering these schemes will feed into the tendering for the remainder of the new-build schemes, the tendering for the enhanced Extra-Care schemes and the development of future phases of Extra-Care schemes

2.4. Support for these schemes will emphasise Hampshire's commitment to its long-term strategic approach to a new generation of housing support and care for older people, endorsed by Cabinet on 27 September 2007. Extra-Care schemes promote and support Independent Living and Lifetime Neighbourhoods. Benefits include enabling residents to stay in their own homes for longer, enabling couples to stay together, and preparing for the demographic challenges facing Hampshire County Council.

3. Legal Implications

3.1. The proposals to tender the contracts for these schemes are compliant with Hampshire County Council Standing Orders, and are subject to the European Union (EU) Procurement Directives (current regulations 31 January 2006) as according to Part B services.

4. Financial Implications

4.1. See Appendix C (Confidential).

5. Review of other Options

5.1. Due to the need for compliance with both County Standing Orders, and The European Union (EU) Procurement Directives (current regulations 31 January 2006), the option to tender these schemes becomes a necessity.

5.2. The option of tendering for the provision of these services at the same time as the other Extra-Care Housing schemes (September 2009 Executive Decision cycle) was originally proposed. However, this option is no longer viable; the timescales involved in tendering for these services, adhering to the recommended OJEU guidelines, would mean that there would be a delay of up to two months between the Extra-Care Housing schemes being completed and care and support provision being available.

5.3. The option not to tender for these services is not available, due to the value of the contracts.

6. Risks

6.1. Failure to endorse the decision to tender for these services and to approve the funding at this time will mean that there will be a delay of up to two months between the completion of these developments and the provision of care and support services, which is a pre-requisite to residents moving in to the accommodation.

7. Recommendations:

7.1. That the Executive Member for Adult Social Care endorses the decision to tender for the provision of 24-hour care and support for the two new-build Extra-Care Housing schemes in Hampshire: one in Andover (Salisbury Road) and the other in Gosport (Cunningham Drive).

7.2. That the length of each contract will be 3 years, with the option to extend each contract by an additional 2 years.

7.3. That the anticipated maximum annual cost of the contracts for provision of care and support for the Andover and Gosport new-build Extra-Care developments is agreed, as set out in Appendix C (Confidential).

Appendix A: CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Appendix B: Impact Assessments

1. Equalities Impact Assessment:

A comprehensive Equalities Impact Assessment has been carried out.

It should be noted that Extra-Care Housing within Hampshire is aimed at vulnerable people over the age of 55, and where appropriate their partners and carers, in order to provide them with the housing, support and care that they need to enable them to live in a home of their own and maintain their independence for as long as possible.

Hampshire Adult Services, working in partnership with the Borough and District Councils, the PCT and third party partners (registered social landlords, care and support providers) ensures through its referrals and allocations process, that all service users have equality of access to Extra-Care Housing, in accordance with the guidelines contained within the Hampshire County Council Guide to Designing Extra-Care Housing and The Partnership for Extra-Care Housing in Hampshire. Impact assessment will be incorporated into the nominations and referrals process.

In preparing this report, account has been taken of the requirements of the Corporate Equalities Plan and Race Scheme. The contract ensures that the provider will perform their duties with due regard, to eliminate unlawful discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity to all people and to promote good relationships between different racial groups.

2. Impact on Crime and Disorder:

The County Council has a legal obligation under Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to consider the impact of all decisions it makes on the prevention of crime.

3. Climate Change:

All new-build Extra-Care schemes are being designed to facilitate the prudent and efficient use of resources and to encourage sustainable consumption and production.

Green travel plans are being developed for the new-build Extra-Care schemes. The aim is to reduce the necessity for private motorised transport and to drive down car use, as a result of having service-users concentrated in one location rather than spread across the community.