The OSC considered the report “Cabinet Decision ‘Call In’ “Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) Commissioning Intentions” comprising of the report considered, and subsequent decision taken, by the Mayor in Cabinet on 23 July 2014, (published 25 July 2014) together with the reasons for “Call In”/ alternative course of action set out in the Call In requisition, signed by Councillors Rachael Saunders, Shiria Khatun, Danny Hassell, Sirajul Islam and Clare Harrisson, in accordance with the provisions of 4 of the Council’s Constitution (Call In requisition presented 31 July 2014 and later declared valid).

The Chair welcomed: Councillors Rachael Saunders, Clare Harrisson and Danny Hassell, three of five Councillors who had Called In the decision of the Mayor in Cabinet and also Councillors Alibor Choudhury (Cabinet Member for Resources) and Ohid Ahmed (Cabinet Member for Community Safety), Andy Bamber (Service Head Safer Communities, CLC) and Ms Rachael Sadegh (Joint Commissioning Manager for Tower Hamlets DAAT, Safer Communities, CLC) who were in attendance to respond to the “Call-in”.

Councillor Saunders presented the “Call-in”: summarising the reasons for “calling in” the Decision, outlining the key concerns of the “Call-in” Members, and setting out the action sought from the OSC to address these; also subsequently responding to questions from the OSC. Concerns of “Call-in” Members and OSC Members summarised as follows: -

·           Concern that the recommendations made by Officers had been modified in Cabinet to provide a role for the two Cabinet Members. Both the reason for the modification and the role of the two Cabinet Members were considered to be unclear.

·           The next stages of the commissioning/ procurement process and service standards were currently not transparent. There was insufficient information for the OSC to identify service standards and determine if the best balance of quality and cost would result from the proposed approach.

·           Consideration that the decision to revise the officer recommendations of Option 3 to agree a consortium approach would impact on service users, as instead of mitigating atomisation of provision with a small number of providers a plethora of local providers would result.

·           Member involvement in the commissioning/ procurement process, and the timing of this was of concern as the two should be separate. Also what was the rationale for Member involvement in this process but not in the process for Direct Payment Support Service (DPSS).

·           Clarification was sought and given as to the number of current service providers and those bidding and their local credentials. However the Chair requested that a list of contract value parameters and those organisations currently holding the contracts be circulated to all OSC members. Comment also that most of the organisations bidding were not local. Accordingly concern expressed, given the Cabinet Member for Resources’ stated purpose to protect local organisations, that only one of the relevant organisations, NAFAS, was a local organisation.

·           Concern that well known/ reputable organisations, some with a global reach, that were currently providing services were now proposed for decommissioning.

The above named Cabinet members and Officers responded to the concerns raised by the “Call-in” Members, and subsequently responded to questions from the OSC summarised as follows:

·           The recommendations in the Cabinet report were the result of a full and wide ranging consultation of local providers and service users on the best way to deliver the drug/ alcohol treatment programme.

·           Further reports to Cabinet would make the commissioning/ procurement process fully transparent and the timeline/ elements of the process was outlined.

·           A standard commissioning process would be followed in accord with procurement law and the Authority’s procurement policy and procedures, and the tender assessment process would be robust. However Members had a right to be involved in the design/ shaping of services they aspired to see delivered, in line with Administration values, hence the decision to give oversight of the service brief/ specification.

·           The commissioning/ procurement process for DPSS had finished and the selected bidder met the criteria in the contract specification, whereas the DAAT commissioning process was just beginning. The service delivery model had been selected but the service specification would be drawn up before moving to the commissioning process.

·           Adoption of the consortium model would reduce the number of contracts whilst maintain the diversity of existing experienced provider agencies.  It was also consistent with the approach elsewhere in London. However non-consortia bids would be considered. Speculation as to providers that might be decommissioned was not appropriate.

·           The proposal would result in the joined up service provision currently lacking, with blocks for treatment, recovery and outreach; and also allow for performance to be tracked. There was an ongoing dialogue with all relevant partners and providers to take forward this process.

·           The proposed approach also incorporated the requirements of local economic, social and cultural dynamics; as the Administration aspired to ensure services delivered were appropriate to local people. It considered this was not possible with a large corporation, but required providers with a sound knowledge of Tower Hamlets and the needs of its diverse community. Consideration that in assessing local credentials the most important factor was the level to which organisations were embedded in the local community, rather than size or global reputation.

The Chair summarised that the OSC considered that the decision of the Mayor in Cabinet should be referred back to the Mayor in Cabinet for further consideration for the reasons detailed by OSC members in their deliberations, and summarised below:

·           That the Mayor fully explains his strategic vision for the re-commissioning of DAAT services and the basis on which he made his decision.

·           That the Mayor clearly sets out the role he has mandated the Cabinet Members for Resources and Community Safety to have in the re-commissioning of DAAT services.

·            

The Chair then Moved and it was:-

Resolved (on a vote)

To refer the decision of the Mayor in Cabinet back to the Mayor in Cabinet for further consideration for the reasons detailed above.

Action by:

Angus Taylor (Principal Committee Officer, Democratic Services, LPG)

Andy Bamber (Service Head Safer Communities, CLC)

Rachael Sadegh (Joint Commissioning Manager for Tower Hamlets DAAT, Safer Communities, CLC)