Agenda item

Commissioning Arrangements - Voluntary, Community and Faith sector

(Cabinet Members with Special Responsibility Councillors Blamire and Barry)

 

Report of the Head of Community Engagement

Minutes:

(Cabinet Members with Special Responsibility Councillors Blamire and Barry)

 

Cabinet received a report from the Head of Community Engagement to make final recommendations on the services to be commissioned from the voluntary, community and faith sector (VCFS) for 2013 to 2016.

 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

 

 

Option 1: Agree the recommendations as proposed

Option 2: Allocate none or only some of the funding

Advantages

Benefits achieved for individuals and families in the district as a result of council support for key services.

 

The resilience and capacity of the VCF sector is improved by support, development and increased collaboration.

 

Contracted services will be able to start or continue uninterrupted from 1 April 2013.

 

 

Some or all funding available for alternative priorities.

 

Possible reduction in staff resources required for contract management.

 

Disadvantages

Current budget for VCFS services will be fully committed.

 

Some staff resources required for contract management.

Critical services to individuals and families in the district will be lost or at risk.

 

Potential negative impact on viability and resilience of the VCF sector, created by loss of support and development services.

 

Reduction in volunteering capacity and opportunities in the district.

 

Risks

Contractual arrangements need to be in place by 1 April.  Work to confirm service details and contract terms being developed to meet this requirement.

Potential negative impact on individuals and families, created by loss or reduction in VCF services including advice and information.

 

Potential increase in demand for mainstream services, created by early and ongoing interventions normally provided by VCFS.

 

 

The preferred option was Option 1. This reflected the Council’s priorities including the intention to support the most vulnerable in our society.  Objectives and outcomes were informed by detailed assessment of needs and opportunities in the district and engagement with a wide range of service delivery partners.  The commissioning process had been fair and transparent, providing opportunities for service deliverers to propose effective ways of achieving the required outcomes. Achieving Value for Money had been a key element in developing new service arrangements.

 

The engagement of service delivery partners in the commissioning process had been invaluable and had informed the development of the Council’s approach to VCFS support.  An open, fair and transparent commissioning process had resulted in recommendations to Cabinet that broadly met all of the requirements of the Council’s Commissioning and Delivery Plan, providing optimum service delivery arrangements to deliver maximum possible benefits for local people and organisations.

 

Councillor Blamire proposed, seconded by Councillor Barry:

 

“(1)      That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

 

Councillors then voted:-

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

(1)                    That Cabinet note the commissioning process undertaken for services identified in the Council’s Delivery and Commissioning Plan.

(2)                    That Member Panel recommendations for services to be supported be approved and service and financial arrangements agreed with delivery partners, subject to normal contractual requirements and the overall budget approved by Council.

(3)                    That the General Fund Revenue budget be updated to reflect the recommendations in the report.

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Head of Community Engagement

Head of Governance

Head of Resources

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

The recommendations were consistent with the Council’s Priorities and Outcomes, as identified in the Corporate Plan 2012 – 2015, specifically Community Leadership - “The voluntary, community and faith sector (VCFS) has capacity to deliver services for the district”.  The recommendations also supported the Council’s intention “to protect the most vulnerable in our society.”

 

Supporting documents: