1             To approve the commencement of competitive tender processes for the following contracts:

·         (See section 1a of the spread sheet appended to the report); (Please note contracts will not be awarded if insufficient funding is allocated by the DoH and the matter will be brought back to the Mayor)

2.           To approve the extension, for up to 12 months, and subsequent procurement during 2013/14, of the following contracts:

·         (See section 1b of the spread sheet appended to the report)

3.           To approve the procurement, during 2013/14 of the following contracts scheduled to expire on 31 March 2014:

·         (See section 1c of the spread sheet appended to the report);

4.           To note the contracts currently held by the NHS where the services are already provided by the Council.  These will become directly provided services from 01 April 2013, and therefore no further commissioning is required:

·         (See section 1d of the spread sheet appended to the report);

5.           To note the contracts which the NHS will not maintain beyond 31 March 2013 and will be decommissioned by the PCT. Therefore no commissioning activity is required by the Council:

·         (See section 1e of the spread sheet appended to the report);

6.           To approve the transfer of responsibility to the Council for the elements of the current contracts with Barts Health NHS Trust and the East London Foundation Trust (ELFT) which pertain to services delivered to residents of Tower Hamlets and note that the Barts contract expires on 31 March 2014 and the ELFT contract on 30^th June 2014. The services currently provided to Tower Hamlets residents under these contracts are:

·         (See section 2a of the spread sheet appended to the report);

7.           To note the intention to work with the Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group, neighbouring Councils and their respective Clinical Commissioning Groups who have an interest in the contracts with the Barts Health NHS Trust during 2013/14 to determine longer term commissioning arrangements which balance local flexibility and priorities with a prudent approach to risk sharing;

8.           To delegate authority to the Corporate Director responsible for the functions being exercised in the contracts in accordance with the Council’s constitution in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing and Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services), and subject to final approval by the Mayor, to enter into various agreements to give effect to the recommendations detailed above and also to enter an agreement with the Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group for the management of contractual arrangements with GPs and Pharmacists currently delivered under NHS Local Enhanced Services arrangements or direct employment contracts with the NHS, for the period 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014.  This is subject always to establishing adequate funding and satisfactory terms that protect the Council and deliver local objectives and or other appropriate providers.  In particular the services currently provided to Tower Hamlets residents under these Local Enhanced Services arrangements are:

·         (See sections 2c and 2e of the spread sheet appended to the report);

9.           To approve the proposed joint commissioning arrangements for the commissioning of sexual health services with the Commissioning Support Unit (who will commission health services on behalf of the Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group) acting as lead commissioner. The services currently provided to Tower Hamlets residents that fall within the remit of the proposed joint commissioning arrangements are:

·         (See sections 2b and 2d of the spread sheet appended to the report)

10.         To delegate authority to the Corporate Director responsible for the functions being exercised in the contracts in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing and  other relevant Lead Member(s)  and chief officer(s),and the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services), and subject to final approval by the Mayor, to approve the award of contracts to the most economically advantageous tenderers following the completion of the procurement processes referred to in recommendations 2, 3 and 4 above subject always to the establishment of appropriate terms and appropriate measures to safeguard local priorities.

11.         To delegate authority to the Corporate Director responsible for the functions being exercised in the contracts to undertake and to enter into all appropriate arrangements relating to Equality Impact Assessments and consideration of the Public Sector Equality Duty  in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 prior to any decisions being taken on commissioning or de-commissioning of services .

Action by:

INTERIM CORPORATE DIRECTOR CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES (I. CATTERMOLE)

(Service Head: Commissioning and Strategy (D. Cohen)