Agenda Item. 16
THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN COUNCIL
CABINET MEETING: 19TH SEPTEMBER, 2007.
REPORT OF THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES
TENDERING PROCESS FOR SERVICES AT THE WESTERN VALE INTEGRATED CHILDREN’S CENTRE
Purpose of report
1. To inform Cabinet concerning the tendering process in respect of services at the Western Vale Integrated Children’s Centre Management Board.
Background
2. On 7th February 2007, cabinet authorised the Chief Executive to negotiate with an interim provider an appropriate sum to manage, co-ordinate and administer the work at Western Vale Integrated Children’s Centre on a temporary basis. Cabinet also resolved that a report be submitted to cabinet by September 2007 concerning a tendering process for services.
3. The Western Vale Integrated Children’s Centre aims to provide services for children and families across the wards of St Brides Major, Llantwit Major, St Athan, Rhoose, Cowbridge and Llandow / Ewenny.
Relevant Issues and Options
4. Negotiations with NCH Cymru resulted in them being identified as the interim provider of some services at Western Vale Integrated Children’s Centre for an agreed amount, within available resources.
5. Llandaff Diocese Board for Social Responsibility have run the Day Nursery at the Centre for more than 10 years. In order to ensure that services are well coordinated, a combined service specification for Coordination, Child Care, Early Years support and Activities for older children has been developed. A diagram showing Western Vale Integrated Children’s Centre services is attached at Appendix A (PDF).
6. Llandaff Diocese Board for Social Responsibility were given written notice of termination of their Service Level Agreement on 8th June 2007. The tendering process using the combined service specification is underway, and the intention is to identify the new provider (or partnership of providers) during the first full week of November 2007.
Resource Implications (financial and employment)
7. The tendering process is being undertaken in accordance with the local authority’s financial regulations and standing orders. The budget available is partly from the Council and partly from Cymorth. Cymorth funding is available by grant at the current level until 31st March 2011, but is subject to internal review on 1st April, 2008.
8. Any TUPE issues arising out of the tendering process will be for the current and future providers to resolve. No Council employees are included within the service being put to tender.
Legal Implications (to include Human Rights implications)
9. Many of the services at an Integrated Children’s Centre require registration with CSSIW. The regulations and standards are designed to improve the quality of services for children and families, but they also set constraints on certain activities and the numbers of children involved.
Crime and Disorder Implications
10. Research has shown that investment in high quality services for children in their early years prevents anti-social behaviour in future years
Equal Opportunities implication (to include Welsh Language Issues)
11. Services are designed to be accessible for children in all circumstances, irrespective of ethnicity, language or religion.
Corporate Service Objectives (to include stakeholder consultation and voluntary sector implications)
12. Social Services meets the corporate objective ‘to make the Vale a safe, healthy and enjoyable place in which individuals, children and families can live their lives to the full’.
Policy Framework and Budget
13. The proposals within this report are a matter for Executive Decision.
Consultation
14. The 2 elected members who are members of the Western Vale Integrated Children’s Centre Advisory Board have been consulted. Elected members for the relevant wards have all been informed of this report.
Relevant Scrutiny Committee
15. Community Wellbeing and Safety
RECOMMENDATONS
It is recommended that::-
1) Cabinet note the work undertaken in respect of the tendering process for services at Western Vale Integrated Children’s Centre.
2) The Director of Finance, ICT and Property Services in consultation with the Chief Executive, Cabinet Member for Social and Care Services and the Deputy Leader of the Council be granted delegated authority to award contracts following the satisfactory conclusion of negotiations.
Reason for recommendations
1 - 2 So that the Council is appropriately informed about the project. This update was requested by cabinet on 7th February.
Background papers
Appendix A Diagram of services at WVICC
Contact Officer Irene Banfield
Operational Manager, Partnership and Service Development
Officers consulted Sian Keen Accountant, Finance and ICT
Irene Thornton Solicitor, Legal and Regulatory Services
Dave Prosser Head of Service, Learning & Development
Simon Salter Operational Manager, Commissioning
Val Lewis CYP Framework Coordinator
Mark Wheeler,
INTERIM DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES
Bryan Jeffreys,
DIRECTOR OF LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT