Issue - meetings

Members considered a report of the Director of Adults and Communities on Home Care for Leicestershire Procurement.  A copy of the report, marked agenda item 11, is filed with these minutes.

Members noted comments from Mr A Innes CC raising concerns around the procurement process, a copy of which is also filed with these minutes.

Mr M Squires CC indicated that the Cabinet also had some concerns with the proposal for  a fixed hourly rate, which did not incentivise cost cutting nor have any impact on providers which were not meeting their contractual obligations. It was suggested that this area required further consideration by Members.  However, subject to this the proposals were otherwise considered to be good, noting changes to zoning of some areas of the County, which should lead to substantial cost savings.

(KEY DECISION)

RESOLVED:

a)    That the Director of Adults and Communities following consultation with the Lead Member for Adults and Communities and the Leader of the Council be given delegated authority to agree the process for the procurement of home care providers;

b)    That, in light of the comments now made, more detailed consideration of the report be deferred, noting that further discussion would take place before the Director exercised his delegation.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The Cabinet considers that it needs to have further discussion regarding the proposed fixed hourly rates.  Delegation to the Director to agree the process, following consultation with the Leader and Cabinet Lead Member, will enable the procurement to commence as planned once the Cabinet’s concerns have been addressed.

The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to help develop a market that delivers a wide range of sustainable high-quality care and support services, that will be available to their communities. A wide range of high-quality services will give people more control and help them to make more effective and personalised choices over their care.

The existing HCL Framework expires in October 2026 with no options remaining within the contract to extend the current arrangements. With the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023 in February 2025, it is timely to re-commission the service under current legislation. The Procurement Act 2023 introduces open frameworks which are a scheme of successive frameworks on substantially the same terms, with a combined term of eight years. Procuring services under an open framework will reinforce sustainability in the Leicestershire market. The open Framework mandates reopening to allow new providers on to the Framework and this will ensure that supply can meet demand over the term of the Framework. The Framework is planned to re-open at the end of year 1 and in year 5 of the 8-year term.

By redesigning parts of the Framework (for example the zone boundaries) the Council will be able to demonstrate a more efficient commissioning model.