Decision details

HIAs help vulnerable people live independently by providing housing related support, such as minor repairs, handyperson services, adaptations and advice.  It is proposed that the existing contract is recommissioned in partnership with our West of England partners.

(1) To AGREE that Bath & North East Somerset continues to participate in the joint competitive procurement process to secure a new West of England HIA contractor; and

(2) To CONFIRM the delegated authority of the Programme Director for Non-Acute Health, Social Care and Housing, in her capacity as chair of the Supporting People & Communities Board, to exercise her judgement in concluding the contractual processes associated with this commission.

The needs analysis indicates that demand for HIA services will increase during the period of the contract.  The recommended decision gives the Council the ability to meet this increased demand within existing budgets whilst also providing an enhanced service.  It is hard to see how any other commissioning option would deliver this outcome for the Council and service users.

Do nothing

This is not a realistic option because the rail contract has already been extended to June 2012 and obtaining further extension could be problematic in relation to complying with procurement legislation.  As such this contract needs to be procured soon.  The HIA contract comes to an end in April 2012 but has the potential to be extended by 2 years.  However, it is considered beneficial that the HIA & handrail contracts should be jointly commissioned given the overlap between client group and contractor skill set.  As such if we did not go with the West of England partnership option we would be forced to separately commission these contracts, the handrail one immediately and the HIA next year.  At this point the other West of England partners would have secured their HIA services and so we would need to recommission these contracts on a Bath & North East Somerset only basis.

Procure separate provision

This is unlikely to deliver the value for money improvements that accrue from working collaboratively.  Hence in light of the expected increase in demand for services over the length of the contract and given the current financial pressures this option is not recommended.