Call-In Members’ Presentation

Councillor Sirajul Islam did not wish to add any matters to his earlier points that would require disclosure of exempt information.

Lead Member’s presentation

Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, supported by Georgia Chimbani, Corporate Director Health and Adult Social Care and Julie Lorraine, Corporate Director Resources, explained the issues underlying the need for an urgent decision on 11 September.

Following questions from Committee members, Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury, Georgia, Julie and supporting officers provided more details on some of the issues discussed.  

Consideration of the Call In

After hearing from the Call-in Member and the Lead Member, the Committee considered the following issues and concerns:

·         Some Members indicated they were reassured by the responses given by the Lead Member and Officers to the concerns raised in the call in regarding the Unison Ethical Care Charter status and the CQC rating applicability to successful suppliers.

·         Some Members felt the question of why the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting the day before Cabinet, on 10 September 2024, had not been informed of the decision had not been satisfactorily answered. Members noted that the Lead Member had confirmed he had received regular updates on the procurement; some members recalled attending several Audit Committee meetings earlier in the year to discuss related matters. Members indicated that, as officers and the executive were apparently conscious of the upcoming decision for some time, they could not understand why OSC had not been informed of the contract award until the day of the Cabinet meeting.

DECISION

The Committee RESOLVED that:

1.    No further action would be taken on the call in.

Call-In Members’ Presentation

Councillor Sirajul Islam presented the reasons for call-in and proposed alternative course of action on behalf of the call-in members, and added that he and the other call in members were troubled by the apparent haste and secrecy surrounding the Mayor in Cabinet decision on 11 September.

Following questions from Committee members, Councillor Sirajul Islam stated he could not recall a similar instance of a report presented to Cabinet with as little notice: the report in question was published a matter of hours prior to the Cabinet meeting start.

Lead Member’s presentation

Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, supported by Georgia Chimbani, Corporate Director Health and Adult Social Care, set out the context of the Cabinet Decision and reviewed the key elements of the decision, reflecting that:

·         The decision was of critical importance to ensure continuity of and quality of care for the borough’s most vulnerable residents.

·         Executive Members had no direct role in the selection and award process, but had set out the framework and principles underlying the procurement process. Officers had proposed a recommendation for the award of contracts which the Mayor had accepted.

·         Julie Lorraine, Corporate Director Resources, provided more detail on the procurement process. Julie explained that the award decision didn’t need to come to Cabinet and could have been taken as an individual Mayoral decision, but the Mayor had opted for Cabinet consideration to maximise transparency.

·         Whilst regrettably the report could not be presented to OSC in advance of Mayoral decision, there would always be occasions, like this, where the urgency of a matter required exceptions to be made to normal governance and oversight arrangements.

Following questions from Committee members, Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury, Georgia, Julie and supporting officers provided more details on:

·         The reason for the lateness and urgency. Whilst officers had been preparing for the report to be presented to 11 September Cabinet, Georgia began at the Council on 2 September 2024. Upon learning of the upcoming decision and report, Georgia wanted to obtain additional detail, background and assurance on the reasons for urgency before she was content to let the report proceed. The date of agreement reached to move forward and make the award was 11 September.

·         The rationale behind the commissioning approach including increasing the number of providers. The procurement process began in July 2023. The new approach was scrutinised at this time by the Health and Adults Scrutiny Sub Committee.

·         The Lead Member confirmed he had received regular updates on the procurement process. He indicated he had full trust in the officers and their recommendations, and he was comfortable with the process to bring the report for decision by the Mayor on 11 September without first consulting OSC.

·         Explained the requirements for CQC registration by providers in LBTH. Officers were content that adequate controls and mechanisms were in place to ensure the quality of services from all providers could be monitored and assessed.

·         Explained that the Council remains a signatory to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3

The Mayor noted and agreed the reasons for urgency as set out in the report.

DECISION

1.    Authorise the award of contracts to the providers for lots 1 and 2 as detailed in the restricted appendices to the report.

2.    Authorise in consultation with the Mayor the Corporate Director Health and Adult Social Care to instruct the sealing of all contracts and associated documents necessary to give effect to recommendation 1,

Action by

CORPORATE DIRECTOR HEALTH AND ADULT SOCIAL CARE (G. CHIMBANI)

Senior Commissioning Manager – Homecare (N. Begum)

The Mayor noted and agreed the reasons for urgency as set out in the report.

Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Social Car, introduced the report that summarised the procurement of a contract for domiciliary care for adults. He explained how the process would ensure high quality domiciliary care services that people value and that support people to live well at home and in their communities. Councillor Choudhury further explained how the proposal represented reinvesting in the community. Awards were proposed to be made to smaller providers, all of whom were committed to paying London Living Wage. He expressed hope the proposal would provide the best possible care for residents whilst affording respect, dignity and fair pay for carers.

The Mayor welcomed the report. He asked the Cabinet to note the procurement process as reported was an officer-led  one in which he nor other elected Members had direct roles in.  He explained how the value caps would ensure a fairer description of funding and work amongst the range of providers.

He stressed that excellent care was a key aspiration of his administration. He asked officers to take care to monitor performance of all providers to ensure no safeguarding issues might arise. He indicated particular regard for how the contracts would offer protection to care workers. Tackling zero hour contracts and offering valuable protections. He stressed the need for LBTH officers to ensure agencies are not dissuading care workers from getting a contract and to ensure they receive their full LLW entitlement.

RESOLVED that the Mayor in Cabinet:

1. Authorise the award of contracts to the providers for lots 1 and 2 as detailed in the restricted appendices to the report.

2. Authorise in consultation with the Mayor the Corporate Director Health and Adult Social Care to instruct the sealing of all contracts and associated documents necessary to give effect to resolution 1.