THAT:

a)    agreement is given to extend the existing health visiting and school nursing (public health nursing) contracts for a period of up to one year from 1 April 2017 at an annual cost of £2.6m (service detailed in appendix 1);

b)    an option appraisal be undertaken to inform a further decision about the provision of an integrated children’s service by the end of March 2017; and

c)    by virtue of this decision report an exemption to paragraph 4.6.13.2 of the council’s contract procedure rules shall be granted to enable the extensions for the reasons as set out in paragraph 4 below and referred to throughout this document.