Handyperson and Affordable Warmth Assistance Service
To receive and consider the report of the Director of Communities (enclosed).
Additional documents:
Decision:
1. That the existing service provider (Preston Care and Repair) is to be retained as the Council’s appointed sub-contractor to deliver Handyperson and Affordable Warmth services during 2021/22, at a contract value of £18,750 for Handyperson services for the period 1 July 2021 to 31March 2022, with an additional maximum £15,000 to be set aside for the Affordable Warmth Assistance service.
2. That Executive Cabinet approves the recommendation to allow a sum of up to £45,000 funded via the Better Care Fund (using the Disabled Facilities Grant budget) to be set aside annually for Handyperson and Affordable Warmth Services for the period 2022/23 to 2024/25 inclusive, providing that present allocation levels of Disabled Facilities Grant are maintained.
3. That Executive Cabinet gives in-principle approval to permit a procurement exercise during the current financial year in order to appoint a contractor to deliver the Handyperson and Affordable Warmth Assistance services with effect from 1 April 2022, with a contract duration of two years with an option to extend for a further year.
4. The proposed tendering arrangements would qualify as a high value procurement and it is proposed that a further report, outlining the procurement approach evaluation criteria and weightings, shall be considered at a future Executive Cabinet meeting.
Minutes:
Councillor Peter Gabbott, Executive Member (Homes and Housing), presented the report of the Director of Communities which seeks approval to re-appoint Preston Care and Repair as the service provider to deliver a Handyperson and Affordable Warmth Assistance service in 2021/22. Member approval is also sought in respect of the proposed financial and procurement arrangements for the delivery of the Handyperson and Affordable Warmth Assistance services from 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2025.
Decision:
1. That the existing service provider (Preston Care and Repair) is to be retained as the Council’s appointed sub-contractor to deliver Handyperson and Affordable Warmth services during 2021/22, at a contract value of £18,750 for Handyperson services for the period 1July 2021 to 31March 2022, with an additional maximum £15,000 to be set aside for the Affordable Warmth Assistance service.
2. That Executive Cabinet approves the recommendation to allow a sum of up to £45,000 funded via the Better Care Fund (using the Disabled Facilities Grant budget) to be set aside annually for Handyperson and Affordable Warmth Services for the period 2022/23 to 2024/25 inclusive, providing that present allocation levels of Disabled Facilities Grant are maintained.
3. That Executive Cabinet gives in-principle approval to permit a procurement exercise during the current financial year in order to appoint a contractor to deliver the Handyperson and Affordable Warmth Assistance services with effect from 1 April 2022, with a contract duration of two years with an option to extend for a further year.
4. The proposed tendering arrangements would qualify as a high value procurement and it is proposed that a further report, outlining the procurement approach evaluation criteria and weightings, shall be considered at a future Executive Cabinet meeting.
Reasons for recommendation(s):
1. The Council’s Home Improvement Agency (HIA) facilitates a range of services to cater for customers with varying levels of need. These range from Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) for major adaptations; Minor Adaptations for items costing less than £1,000, and Handyperson services for small scale ‘’DIY-type’’ jobs within the home.
2. The retention of Handyperson and Affordable Warmth Services will enable the Council to continue to offer this broad range of appropriate assistance to Chorley residents.
3. Longer term funding commitment will enable consistency in terms of service planning and service delivery as well as being a more attractive proposition for potential contractors, thereby making it more likely to create competition in the market.
Alternative options considered and rejected:
1. The ending of the Handyperson service was considered, but it is widely recognised that the service is valuable to the customers who use it and that it also acts as a method of preventing vulnerable customers from sustaining injuries through falls which could result in urgent admissions to hospital for lengthy out-patient stays.
2. An option of carrying out a procurement exercise during 2021/22 to tender the Handyperson and Affordable Warmth services was considered but rejected due to the concerns that this would inevitably cause an interruption to vital service (in the case of ... view the full minutes text for item 45