Decisions

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.    ratify a decision made by the Executive Director of Adult Social Care, Wellbeing and Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Commissioning, to publish the Market Sustainability Plan on Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) website, in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC);

2.    delegate authority to the Executive Director of Adult Social Care, Wellbeing and Communitiesto implement the Market Sustainability Plan including the following measures:

a.    to pay providers of bed based and domiciliary provision for older and disabled people in Gloucestershire with whom the council contracts currently a one-off payment equivalent to 1% of the annual fees as taken at a snapshot in time payable under such contracts in accordance with guidance for the Market Sustainability and Fair Cost of Care Fund (MS&FCoC) to “promote the efficient and effective operation of a market in services for meeting care and support needs” (Section 5 Care Act 2014).

b.    to (i) Increase the current contract fee rate payable by the council to providers of nursing and dementia care homes in Gloucestershire with whom the council contracts by 4% per annum.  Such increase shall be payable on top of the latest global inflation uplift; and

(ii) ensure that any nursing and dementia care home providers with whom the council contracts who are paid a rate which is less than the current contract fee rate have their fee rate increased to such new contract rate.

The increases described in Recommendations 2(b)(i) and (ii) shall take effect from April 2023 in accordance with the variation provisions of such contracts and in accordance with Care Act 2014 (Section 5) to “promote the efficient and effective operation of a market in services for meeting care and support needs”.

For the reasons set out in the report.

1.    To agree acceptance of an additional £818k to support a programme of work across the ICS and other employers, addressing health inequalities for people at risk of long-term unemployment/economic inactivity and increasing employment opportunities within the NHS for young people at risk of long-termunemploymentfor the purpose of;

(a)               Addressing health inequalities relating to long term unemployment and economic inactivity

(b)       Opening up opportunities for young people including those who are at risk of long-term unemployment to develop their skills and capacity for work across the Integrated Care System

(c)       Addressing the skills and recruitment needs of the Care Sector

2.   To note that the activities this funding covers will take place over 2 years

       between February 2023 and March 2025

To seek approval to exercise the 3 year option to extend the exisiting provision of actuarial services to the Gloucestershire Pension Fund contract following expiry of the initial 4 year term on 31 March 2023.

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.

Having fully considered all the available information, I have decided to reject the alternative options and take the recommended decision to:

Approve the exercise of a 3-year extension option under the council’s contract with Hymans Robertson for the provision of actuarial services to the Gloucestershire Pension Fund.

Such extension shall commence on 1 April 2023 and be effected in accordance with the extension option provisions of the contract.

For the reasons set out in the report.

To approve an extension to the Fastershire Partnership agreement between Gloucestershire County Council and Herefordshire Council to 31 March 2024. The aim of the Fastershire project is to improve broadband availability across the two counties to support businesses, communities, and individual households to become more digitally connected.

The Fastershire project is nearing its conclusion with 97% of the county having the opportunity to access Superfast Broadband. The proposed one-year extension to the partnership agreement will ensure the Fastershire Team remains in place to manage the closedown of existing Stage 3 Regional delivery contracts with Gigaclear and support the delivery of Stage 5 Fastershire community grants.

The report also seeks approval to extend the completion date for two contracts awarded to Gigaclear as part of Stage 3 of the Fastershire delivery programme. This change request is linked to a previous change request agreed in December 2021.

• Lot 2/3c - from December 2022 to December 2023

• Lot 3e – from September 2022 to June 2023

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 time extensions requested by Gigaclear in respect of the following two existing regional contracts for the delivery of broadband infrastructure between Gloucestershire County Council and Herefordshire Council and Gigaclear that were awarded as part of Stage 3 of the Fastershire delivery programme described in paragraph 4 in this report:

a)    a 12-month extension (expiring December 2023) to the term of a contract relating to the provision of such services in the Gloucestershire west of the River Severn locality under Lots 2-3c thereof.

b)    a 9-month extension (expiring June 2023) to the term of a contract relating to the provision of such services in the south Gloucestershire locality under Lot 3e thereof.

c)    Approve the principles agreed by Gloucestershire County Council and Herefordshire Council described in paragraphs 7 to 15 in this report which provide the cornerstones of a Transition Agreement that will cover the voluntarily disengagement from the Fastershire project by both parties on the 31 March 2024.

d)    Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Economy, Environment, and Infrastructure in consultation with the Leader of the Council to incorporate the above-mentioned principles into the Transition Agreement with Herefordshire Council. Once finalised such Transition Agreement will become supplemental to the existing Fastershire Partnership Agreement between Herefordshire Council and Gloucestershire County Council.

For the reasons set out in the report.

The Council’s main insurance contracts expire on the 23rd June 2023. Authority is sought to re-tender the contracts for 5 years (3 years with an option to extend for a further 2 years)

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.

Having fully considered all the available information, I have decided to reject the alternative options and take the recommended decision to:

Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of Corporate Resources in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Change to:

1.    Conduct a competitive procurement process under Crown Commercial Services (RM6138 Insurance Services 3 DPS) in respect of an insurance contract or (as appropriate) contracts divided into the following 11 lots for the purpose of replacing the council’s existing contracts of insurance:

a)    Property Insurance

b)    Liability Insurance

c)    Motor Insurance

d)    Engineering Inspection/Insurance

e)    Computer Insurance

f)     Marine Insurance

g)    School Legal Expenses

h)    School Travel Insurance

i)     Fidelity Guarantee Insurance

j)     Travel & Personal Accident Insurance

k)    Terrorism Insurance

Such lots may be awarded to the same tenderer under a single contract or awarded to a number of separate tenderers under not more than eleven separate contracts, whose term(s) shall continue for an initial period of 3 years and include an option to extend such term(s) for a further period of not more than 2 years.

2.    Award such contract(s) to the preferred tenderer(s) and

3.    Determine whether to exercise the option to extend the term of such contract(s) for a further period of not more than 2 years on the expiry of the initial 3 year term

For the reasons set out in the report.

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:

Delegate authority to the Executive Director: Adult Social Care, Wellbeing and Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Commissioning to:

1.    Delay the implementation of the previous Decision regarding the Procurement of Electronic Call Monitoring (ECM) system for use from April 2023 taken on 4th July 2022 and deliver to the revised timetable set out in this report. Specifically:

a)    Conduct a further competition process under the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO) Framework 394_19 in respect of a call-off contract for the supply of Electronic Homecare Monitoring and Scheduling Solutions. The proposed call-off contract shall continue for an initial period of 3 years and include an option to extend its term for a further period of not more than 2 years;

b)    In the event that the ESPO Framework 394_19 for the supply of Electronic Homecare Monitoring and Scheduling Solutions has expired and is not replaced, to conduct a further competition process under a suitable alternative framework or conduct a competitive procurement process in accordance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 for the same;

c)    Award such call-off contract to the preferred tenderer; and

d)    Determine whether to exercise the option to extend such contract for a further period of not more than 2 years prior to the expiry of the initial 3-year term.

2.    Vary the term for the existing two contracts with Access UK Ltd for the supply and maintenance of Electronic Call Monitoring (ECM) systems for Home Care and Supported Living Providers in Gloucestershire to extend their term for a period of up to 2 years until either a further competition or full procurement process can be completed in accordance with the Public Contract Regulations 20150

For the reasons set out in the report.

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.

Having fully considered all the available information, I have decided to reject the alternative options and take the recommended decision to:

To agree:

1.    to the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Joint Committee continuing to operate from 31st March 2023 until 30 September 2023 and

2.    completion of the appropriate legal documentation to allow the Inter Authority Agreement dated 4 September 2014, made between the Gloucestershire local authorities, to be extended until 30 September 2023.

For the reasons set out in the report

Following the publication of statutory notices and the conclusion of the four-week period for representations to be made, approval is sought to implement the permanent expansion of Twyning Primary school from a Published Admission Number of 15 to 20 from September 2024.

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 itselfand 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:

Approve the permanent expansion of Twyning Primary school from a Published Admission Number of 15 to 20 from September 2024.

For the reasons set out in the report.

To seek approval to undertake a procurement process for the appointment of a contractor to deliver an extension to the Gloucestershire’s E-Scooter Trial