This report seeks approval to procure a new community activities provider framework for adults aged 18-65 to start in May 2023.

That:

a)    The Council procures a new dynamic framework for community activity services and delegates all operational decisions over the management of it to the Director of Community Wellbeing.

1.     Several alternative options have been considered including different procurement options, in-sourcing, and moving to direct payments. The pros and cons of each of these options is included in Appendix 1

2.     The option to do nothing (Option A) was ruled out because it limits the council’s control over the quality of services and the price paid for them, and because it does not comply with procurement legislation. Moving to direct payments (Option B) is not being considered further because this also limits the council’s control over the quality of services and the price paid for them and risks de-stabilising the market with the providers having less security that they will have people using their services. The in-housing (Option C) and block contracting (Option E)_options reduce the market significantly and so reduce the choice of people using services, and would likely cause negative publicity.

3.     Therefore Option D was chosen, as a framework: allows the providers some security that the council will be working with them; complies with procurement legislation; and gives the council better control of pricing and quality oversight.