Decision details

The confidential report of the Director of Customer and Advice Services was presented by the Executive Member (Customer and Advice Services), Councillor Graham Dunn.

Decision:

1.         Approval granted to accept LCC’s offer of a partnership arrangement to deliver the IHIS service in Chorley (contract area 3) from April 2015, on an initial 3 year term to 31 March 2018, with an option to extend for an additional 2 years to 31 March 2020.

2.         Approval granted for Officers to investigate the feasibility of the Council tendering for the IHIS service in contract area 4, which comprises West Lancashire, South Ribble and Preston. Exploring the potential for such an opportunity would include dialogue with Preston Care & Repair (with whom we already work closely as our existing Handyperson provider) as potential partners in a joint bid for this contract.

Reasons for recommendation(s)

Accepting the IHIS contract will enable the Council – through the HIA - to continue to directly deliver a holistic service to some of the most vulnerable members of the community.

Alternative options considered and rejected

An option of declining LCC’s offer to enter into a partnership agreement to deliver the IHIS service was considered and rejected. To decline LCC’s offer would have meant loss of funding to the HIA. It could have also compromised the Council’s position in the sense that its ability to influence and direct the activities of the delivery agent would be reduced if that role was not performed by the HIA.