Issue - items at meetings - Procurement of Temporary Accommodation - Framework

Report of the Acting Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached) together with an extract from the proceedings of the Housing & New Homes Committees on 13 January 2015 (to follow).

1)            That the Committee grant delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director of Environment Development and Housing in consultation with the Director of Finance to set up a DPS with a duration of up to four (4) years and run call-off tenders for the provision of long term managed leased accommodation which may be situated outside of the Brighton & Hove Local Authority Local Housing Allowance Area provided we seek to procure within an hour’s travelling time of the city by public transport.

2)            That the Committee grant delegated authority is granted to the Executive Director of Environment Development and Housing to award contracts under the DPS as required following the recommendations of the evaluation panel with respect to individual call-off tenders run under the DPS.

108.1    The Committee considered a report of the Acting Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing in relation to Procurement of Temporary Accommodation – Dynamic Purchasing System. The report recommended that the Council set up a dynamic purchasing system for long lease accommodation where the management was undertaken by the provider, and allow providers to source the accommodation outside of the Brighton & Hove Authority Local Housing Allowance Area.

108.2    In response to Councillor Wealls it was explained that, in relation to the quality of accommodation, a specification would be drawn up and the providers would need to able to demonstrate they met this, and the authority would be able to undertake checks.

108.3    Councillor Sykes noted he had no concerns with the procurement process, but felt the principle of housing people in temporary accommodation further away from the city could make Brighton & Hove a less diverse place.

108.4    In response to Councillor Janio it was explained that the length of the contract sought to allow those in temporary accommodation the opportunity to settle where they were housed.

108.5    In response to Councillor Mac Cafferty it was explained that the monitoring of the contract would be undertaken through the reporting processes checking on the specification standards; furthermore, the Housing Department managed a number of other contracts where similar checking processes were undertaken.

108.6    Councillor Meadows commented that the report had been through both the Procurement Advisory Board and the Housing & New Committee; she went on to add that with the proposed Greater Brighton devolution bid there would be the potential to provide the housing need for the city within that wider area and the report would provide the flexibility needed in this service.

108.7    The Chair then put the recommendation to the vote:

108.8    RESOLVED:

1)           That the Committee grant delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director of Environment Development and Housing in consultation with the Director of Finance to set up a DPS with a duration of up to four (4) years and run call-off tenders for the provision of long term managed leased accommodation which may be situated outside of the Brighton & Hove Local Authority Local Housing Allowance Area provided we seek to procure within an hour’s travelling time of the city by public transport.

2)           That the Committee grant delegated authority is granted to the Executive Director of Environment Development and Housing to award contracts under the DPS as required following the recommendations of the evaluation panel with respect to individual call-off tenders run under the DPS.