Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Operational Manager (People) on the Awarding of Contracts for Public Advice Services and Infrastructure and Support to the Voluntary Sector Services.

Executive Councillor: K Prentice.

The Cabinet has approved the appointment of Citizens Advice Rural Cambridgeshire to provide Public Advice Services from 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2023 at a cost of £347,100 over three years - £115,700 per annum.

The Cabinet has also approved the appointment of Hunts Forum of Voluntary Organisations to provide Voluntary Sector Infrastructure and Support Services from 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2023 at a cost of £186,900 over three years - £62,300 per annum.

With the aid of a report prepared by the Operational Manager (People) (a copy of which is appended in the Annex to the Minute Book) the Cabinet were presented with the results of the competitive tendering exercise on two commissioned services; namely the provision of a Public Advice Service and the provision of Infrastructure and Support to the Voluntary Sector.

Having received assurances that mechanisms were in place to ensure that services were being offered to Huntingdonshire residents, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that  Citizens Advice Rural Cambridgeshire be appointed to provide Public Advice Services from 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2023 at a cost of £347,100 over three years - £115,700 per annum; and

(b)  that Hunts Forum of Voluntary Organisations be appointed to provide Voluntary Sector Infrastructure and Support Services from 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2023 at a cost of £186,900 over three years - £62,300 per annum.

A report on the awarding of contracts for public advice and voluntary sector support will be presented to the Panel.

With the aid of a report by the Operational Manager (People) (a copy of which has been appended in the Minute Book) the awarding of contracts for public advice and voluntary sector support was presented to the Panel.

Members commented on several aspects of the submitted bids and noted that the sums bid were the same for the bidders in both contracts, however they were assured that although bidders were notified of a notional budget sum, they had the opportunity to submit different sums but had elected not to do so. 

The Panel also noted that the current provider recently had funding withdrawn by another Council and asked about the impact of this on the local contract. Officers assured the Panel that the tender process provided explicit links between funding for and delivery under the Huntingdonshire contract.

RESOLVED

The Panel agreed that the Cabinet should endorse the recommendations contained within the report.

(At 8.30pm, during the consideration of this item, Councillor J Tavener entered the meeting.)