Agenda item

1.  Agreed to the re-procurement of the Berkshire East Integrated SRH Service led by Bracknell Forest Council on behalf of Bracknell Forest Council, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, and Slough Borough Council as a continuation of joint commissioning arrangements.

2.  Approved the funding envelope for the Slough Borough Council element of the service to a maximum value of £6,256,691 over 5 years. 

3.  Agreed that Bracknell Forest Council would lead the procurement process, with representation from Slough Borough Council Public Health Team on the assessment and evaluation panel.

4.  Delegated authority to the Executive Director People - Adults in consultation with the Executive Director of Finance and Commercial and Lead Member for Social Care and Public Health, to take any action necessary and to sign all related legal and contractual documentation to enter into the new specialist SRH Service contract as a member of the Berkshire East joint commissioning arrangement.

The Lead Member for Social Care & Public Health introduced a report that set out recommendations about how the Council could secure provision of a new specialist Sexual and Reproductive Health service (SRH) contract by 1^st July 2024.

Sexual health services (contraception and testing/treatment for sexually transmitted diseases) were prescribed functions that local authorities had to fund through the public health grant.  The Council had secured provision through a joint arrangement with other Berkshire authorities since the transfer of public health to local government in 2013.  The contract with the current specialist provider expired on 30^th June 2024.  The Lead Member commented that the current arrangements worked well and joint commissioning provided best value and opportunities for economies of scale.  A comprehensive service was offered from the Garden Clinic and outcomes such as HIV testing rates in Slough were considered to be good.

After due consideration the Cabinet agreed the recommendations.

Resolved –

(a)  Agreed to the re-procurement of the Berkshire East Integrated SRH Service led by Bracknell Forest Council on behalf of Bracknell Forest Council, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, and Slough Borough Council as a continuation of joint commissioning arrangements.

(b)  Approved the funding envelope for the Slough Borough Council element of the service to a maximum value of £6,256,691 over 5 years. 

(c)  Agreed that Bracknell Forest Council would lead the procurement process, with representation from Slough Borough Council Public Health Team on the assessment and evaluation panel.

(d)  Delegated authority to the Executive Director People - Adults in consultation with the Executive Director of Finance and Commercial and Lead Member for Social Care and Public Health, to take any action necessary and to sign all related legal and contractual documentation to enter into the new specialist SRH Service contract as a member of the Berkshire East joint commissioning arrangement.