Agenda item

Procurement of Integrated Community Equipment Service

Decision:

1.  Agreed to Slough Borough Council working in partnership with local authorities and statutory health bodies across Berkshire to develop a new model for the delivery of community equipment services, led by West Berkshire Council.

 

2.  Delegated authority to the Executive Director People Adults in consultation with Lead Member Social Care and Public Health, and Lead Member Children’s Services, Lifelog Learning and Skills, to have oversight of the development process.

 

3.  Approved the continuance of the Berkshire Community Equipment Service (BCES) Section 75 Agreement. (This is the vehicle through which funding between statutory bodies can be pooled)

 

4.  Noted that a paper concerning the proposed new model will be presented to People Scrutiny Panel in Spring 2023.

 

5.  Agreed that recommendations and updates concerning the re-procurement of new community equipment services will be presented to Cabinet in Spring 2023.

 

6.  Agreed that recommendations for contract award for new community equipment services will be presented to Cabinet in Winter 2023.

 

Minutes:

The Lead Member for Social Care & Public Health introduced a report which sought approval to progress the development of a new model for Community Equipment Service jointly with the other Berkshire local authorities and statutory health bodies, led by West Berkshire Council.  This arrangement aimed to support the delivery of economies of scale by drawing together the planning and purchasing power of local authorities and health bodies across the region.

 

There has been a s75 agreement in place since February 2015 and the Council intended to continue to collaborate with providers in Berkshire as they have done in the past.  It was explained that the potential for savings was limited under the scheme as there were limited suppliers available in the area.

 

Questions were asked by Lead Members and Councillor Strutton about a range of issues including monitoring performance and responsiveness.  It was explained that the Council has key performance indicators for same day, next day and weekend delivery depending upon the item of equipment and the individual situation. There was a large store in West Berkshire and a local store in Slough that aimed to respond quickly to time sensitive requests. It was explained that more complex equipment may take longer and where there is work required to be carried out in the property they aim to get this carried out in 5 days.  The reasons were equipment was sometimes delayed was explained and all necessary steps were taken to provide a timely and responsive service.

 

A Cabinet Member asked how the Council would ensure value for money, and it was explained that they were actively re-using and recycling equipment as much as possible. The Officer also noted that they undertake a lot of engagement for feedback which was shared with the Berkshire steering group and then fed back to each partner in terms of lessons learnt.

 

At the conclusion of the discussion the recommendations were approved.

 

Resolved –

 

(a)  Agreed to Slough Borough Council working in partnership with local authorities and statutory health bodies across Berkshire to develop a new model for the delivery of community equipment services, led by West Berkshire Council.

 

(b)  Delegated authority to the Executive Director People Adults in consultation with Lead Member Social Care and Public Health, and Lead Member Children’s Services, Lifelog Learning and Skills, to have oversight of the development process.

 

(c)  Approved the continuance of the Berkshire Community Equipment Service (BCES) Section 75 Agreement. (This is the vehicle through which funding between statutory bodies can be pooled)

 

(d)  Noted that a paper concerning the proposed new model will be presented to People Scrutiny Panel in Spring 2023.

 

(e)  Agreed that recommendations and updates concerning the re-procurement of new community equipment services will be presented to Cabinet in Spring 2023.

 

(f)  Agreed that recommendations for contract award for new community equipment services will be presented to Cabinet in Winter 2023.

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