To seek approval to commission, by means of a competitive tender process in line with the council’s contract procedure rules, an accommodation based housing related support service. The accommodation based housing related support service is currently delivered by Caring for Communities and People (CCP) and is due to expire on 31 August 2024.

To seek approval to commission, by means of a competitive tender process in line with the council’s contract procedure rules, a housing related floating support service. Two separate but related contracts are currently commissioned and delivered by CCP and Connexus

That:

a) the commissioning of a single floating support service through an open procurement process, be approved, for a period of up to 53 months from 1 April 2024 up to 31 August 2028 with a maximum total cost of £675,008.

b) the commissioning of an accommodation based support service through an open procurement process be approved, for a period of up to 48 months, commencing from the end of the previous contract on 1 September 2024 up to 31 August 2028, with a maximum total cost of £1,062,096;

c) authority be delegated to the Corporate Director, Community Wellbeing to award contracts for accommodation based and floating support services, following the completion of procurement processes;

d) that delegated authority is given to the Corporate Director, Community Wellbeing to approve any changes to the commissioning process, or subsequent contracts for their duration, including the option to extend and to vary and terminate existing contracts.

1. The services are not re-commissioned. This option is not recommended as both contracts form part of the council’s approach to preventing and relieving homelessness and supports the council to fulfil its duties under The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and the council’s commitment to its care leavers as Corporate Parent. People supported are at risk of homelessness or who are homeless and may have experienced trauma and/or adverse childhood experiences and will often have multiple and complex vulnerabilities. It is likely people referred to the service may be known to a number of agencies, including the police / probation, drug and alcohol recovery services, mental health services and adult social care. The impact of not providing either service would result in an increase in rough sleepers and homelessness applications to the council and growing use of temporary accommodation. Not recommissioning the services would be a lost opportunity to improve outcomes for very vulnerable people and would be detrimental to the council’s ability to comply with its duties under homelessness legislation. Usually, if the accommodation based support service is full, people are placed in B&B or temporary accommodation, with the resultant risks and costs. If the accommodation based service were to close, all the occupants and all people newly referred would need to go into B&B or other temporary accommodation provided by the council. A proportion may become excluded from accommodation and may become rough sleepers. In addition to the absence of support and the likely poor outcomes for people, this level of demand could significantly affect the council’s B&B and temporary accommodation provision. There would also be a risk of increased offending behaviour, hospital admissions or anti- social behaviour, with associated financial pressures for the council and other public services.

2. The contracts with the existing provider are extended. This option is not practicable since neither contract contains an option to extend. This option would also not enable the council to bring together two separately commissioned services that provide floating housing support and outreach enabling efficiencies to be made, the development of the delivery model and maximising usage throughout the county.