DECISION

1.    Approve the recommissioning of the Young People’s Supported Housing Pathway procurement that went live on 18^th September 2023 and closed on 17^th November 2023.

2.    Approve the award of contract extensions to the four block contracts of three existing providers in the Young People’s Supported Housing Pathway of 6 months each to allow for a suitable tender and mobilisation period of the reprocurement.

3.    To note the specific equalities considerations as set out in Paragraph 4.1 of the report.

Action by

CORPORATE DIRECTOR CHILDRENS SERVICES (S. REDDY)

Covering Director Commissioning and Youth (L. Richards)

Steve Reddy, Corporate Director Children’s Services introduced the report that, further to a previous extension in November 2023, updated Mayor and Cabineton the recommissioning of the Tower Hamlets Young People’s Supported Housing Pathway (YPSHP) and sought permission for the retendering of the YPSHP and an extension to the existing contracts. Steve explained the difficulties that officers had encountered with the previous procurement exercise and explained that this approach would ensure service continuity and contracts were awarded to suitably qualified providers when the existing contract extensions have ended.

Cabinet members asked that a forward plan of procurement activity could help the Council prepare for similar occurrences.

Julie Lorraine, Corporate Director Resources, asked Mayor and Cabinet to note that the comments of the chief finance officer in the report provided should refer to a six-month extension (not 9 months).

The Mayor asked officers to note that he was minded to agree a six-month extension to the current contract as an exception, but that ordinarily he insisted on open procurement wherever possible. He also asked officers widen future procurement exercises to ensure smaller providers were not excluded or did not face unnecessary barriers.

RESOLVED that the Mayor in Cabinet:

1.    Approves the recommissioning of the Young People’s Supported Housing Pathway procurement that went live on 18^th September 2023 and closed on 17^th November 2023.

2.    Approves the award of contract extensions to the four block contracts of three existing providers in the Young People’s Supported Housing Pathway of 6 months each to allow for a suitable tender and mobilisation period of the reprocurement.

3.    Notes the specific equalities considerations as set out in Paragraph 4.1 of the report.