THAT:

(a)              The contract award  for the delivery of the legal Healthwatch function for Herefordshire to a newly-established company, to be called Healthwatch Herefordshire, which will receive back office functions and support provided by Healthwatch Worcestershire to enable synergies and reduce duplications, is approved;

(b)             Thenegotiatedfundinglevel of £163,000 for 14 months is approved;

(c)              In the event of recommendation (a) not being practical, approval for delegated authority to the director for adults and wellbeing, in consultation with the cabinet member health and wellbeing, to award an interim contract arrangement to another provider within the funding set out in recommendation (b); 

(d)             By virtue of this decision report an exemption to paragraph 4.6.13.7 of the council’s contract procedure rules shall be granted to enable the extensions for the reasons as set out in the paragraphs identified below and referred to throughout this document.