Decision details

Contract variation to further extend the current contract whilst concluding mobilisation of the new contract and minor variations to the new contract regarding rents and a slight reduction in bedspaces.

The Director of Planning and Property approves: 

1. To note Appendices 2-6 are not for publication on the basis that they contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) as set out in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).  

2. The rent for four Council-owned properties due to be used as SIL for young people, the details of which are set out in Exempt Appendix 2. 

The Director of Commissioning and Transformation approves: 

3. The variation of the current contract with Centrepoint Soho, for the provision of semi-independent living (SIL) services for young people for up to a further three months under the current contract terms, at a total cost of approximately £389,410. 

The Executive Director of Place approves: 

4. The extension of the existing Housing Management Agreement (HMA) for three other Council owned properties, up to a total revenue cost of £45,369. 

The Executive Director of People approves: 

5. A variation to the contract award for the provision of SIL services (approved in December 2024) to reduce the number of bedspaces by nine, bringing the total bedspaces to 124.

1.     The purpose of SIL services is to provide young people with a supportive home within their local community whilst they build a range of life skills to enable them to make a successful transition to living independently when they feel ready to do so.  

2.     Both Children’s Services and Housing have statutory duties to provide sufficient accommodation to meet the needs of care experienced young people and young people at risk of homelessness. Commissioning a SIL block contract ensures that we have access to high-quality in-borough SIL accommodation for this cohort, with improved access to local services, family and community networks, and at lower cost than out-of-borough spot-purchased alternatives.  

3.     Given the strategic importance of the SIL contract, it is not possible to have a gap in service provision once the current contract ends, and any gap would be extremely disruptive to the young people currently living in local SIL services. As such, an extension of the current arrangements for a short, time limited period is therefore recommended to ensure continuity of provision whilst the issues with the long-term contract are resolved. Minor variations to the proposed rents and number of bedspaces under the new contract are also recommended to ensure the ongoing viability of the contract. 

Proposals and Analysis of Options?? 

8. Option 1 – Approve the proposals outlined in this paper (recommended) 

Agreeing the rents and extending the current arrangements will ensure we are able to proceed with mobilising the new contract whilst ensuring continuity of provision. In addition, reducing the number of bedspaces under the new contract is necessary given that the building is due to be handed back. 

9. Option 2 – Do not approve the proposals outlined in this paper (not recommended) 

 
Not approving the proposals is not recommended as this would result in there either being a non-regularised arrangement with the current provider, or a gap in provision which would be extremely disruptive for young people and costly for the local authority.