That:

a)    To direct award a contract to Worcestershire County Council to deliver Herefordshire’s children’s social care out of hours Emergency Duty Team (EDT) service for a period of 3 years from 1 April 2026 up to 31 March 2029, with the option to extend up to a further 48 months, initially at an annual cost of £143,170; and

b)    To delegate to the Corporate Director for Children and Young People to take all operational decisions to agree terms and conditions within the contract, including managing the risk of Local Government Reorganisation that may curtail Worcestershire County Council’s ability to deliver their contractual obligations by undertaking, if required, a scoping exercise on potential alternative service providers and their costings (in years 2 to 3)