Decision details

RESOLVED: that the Cabinet:

a) Noted the delivery of the Holiday Activities and Food Programme to date and its benefits to children, young people, and families in West Northamptonshire.

b) Approved the procurement of a supplier to coordinate the delivery of the Holiday Activities and Food Programme in West Northamptonshire in partnership with the Council from March 2023 in line with the Contract Procedure Rules.

c) Delegated authority to the Executive Member for Children, Families, Education & Skills in consultation with the Executive Director of Children’s Services (DCS) to take any further decisions and actions required to conclude this procurement and award the contract

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION:

Delivering the Holiday Activities and Food Programme makes best use of resources from central government

The programme will deliver benefits to vulnerable children, young people, and their families

Commissioning a provider to coordinate the programme alongside the council will allow the Council to benefit from the expertise and experience of the successful provider in delivering similar programmes and working with Community and Voluntary Sector organisations that deliver holiday activity programmes whilst also retaining an element of input and control of the programme

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

Officers have reviewed the existing contractual arrangements in conjunction with colleagues from both the Legal and Procurement teams. This has confirmed there are no options to flex or extend the existing contract and therefore a new arrangement must be adopted in advance of

28th February 2023.

An options appraisal has been undertaken in two parts. The first part of the options appraisal considered the delivery model for the service into the future and whether WNC should deliver the service themselves or commission a third party to deliver the service. The second part of the options appraisal considered whether the service should be jointly commissioned with North

Northamptonshire Council.

The option not to deliver the service was rejected. Not delivering the service would mean not taking advantage of funding available to the council and not delivering services to children from low-income families who would benefit from the programme.