Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/142

Contact: Kate Eveleigh, Health Improvement Practitioner, katharine.eveleigh@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Corporate Director of Public Health & Community Safety (CMDPHI5)

To seek approval to procure a contract to provide support to residents related to health, housing, and energy efficiency matters. Value of £130,000 per year for two years.

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to

a)                  Approve the commission of the Housing and Health Single Point of Contact (HSPoC) via the appropriate procurement route to the value of £520,000 over four years and up to £1.5 million.

b)                  delegate authority to the Director of Public Health in consultation with the Head of Legal and Deputy Monitoring Officer to award and complete the contract for the Housing and Health Single Point of Contact as referred to in this report following the conclusion of a procurement exercise pursuant to the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules.

Recommendations approved.

The Cabinet Member received a report on the commissioning of the Housing and Health Single Point of Contact (HSPoC).

The report was summarised by Katharine Eveleigh, Health Improvement Practitioner.  Good housing was a key determinant of health.  NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidance recommends the commissioning of a single point of contact for housing condition related issues.  The Public Health Team has agreed to continue to fund the service and the City and District Councils will also contribute.

Katharine Eveleigh responded to questions from Councillor O’Connor as follows:

·       While the service was mainly a telephone advice line it would be linked to the wider system, referring to other services and working in partnership with other advice services including the NHS.  It also included home visits in cases where vulnerable residents may not wish to discuss problems over the phone.

·       Direct provision by the Council was considered but it was not deemed to meet the success criteria.

·       The core offer was for £130,000 but the figure of £1.5m was the total value of the contract should other sources of funding become available.

Councillor O’Connor asked for it to be noted the importance of cooperating with other services to avoid duplication or fragmentation.  He approved the recommendations.

RESOLVED to

a)              Approve the commission of the Housing and Health Single Point of Contact (HSPoC) via the appropriate procurement route to the value of £520,000 over four years and up to £1.5 million.

b)              delegate authority to the Director of Public Health in consultation with the Head of Legal and Deputy Monitoring Officer to award and complete the contract for the Housing and Health Single Point of Contact as referred to in this report following the conclusion of a procurement exercise pursuant to the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules.