In coming to this decision I have given due and full regard to the requirements of the public sector equality duty contained in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 (“the Act”) by reference to the law itself and also the relevant Equality Impact Assessment, which was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Act.
Having fully considered all the available information, I have decided to reject the alternative options and take the recommended decision to:
1. Approve the contracts with Medequip and We Care & Repair being changed from a two-year extension option after the initial five-year term expires on 31 July 2022 to a 1+1 extension option
2. Approve the exercise of the option to extend the contracts with Medequip and We Care & Repair for the initial one-year period from 1 August 2022
3. Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Public Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Commissioning, to determine whether to exercise the option to extend the contracts with Medequip and We Care & Repair for a final period of one year from 1 August 2023
For the reasons set out in the report.