Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Children, Education and Young People’s Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2024/244

Contact: Alison Walker, Commissioning Officer – Start Well (Alison.Walker@oxfordshire.gov.uk)

Report by Director for Children’s Services (CMDCEYPS6).

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to:

a)    Approve the purchase of individual and/or block placements, under the £500K threshold, for the children of Oxfordshire from the South-Central Residential Care Framework as a Consortium member.

The Chair asked why he was being asked to approve £500K only, given that the Council spent £1.3M under a previous contract.

Officers clarified that the cost is £500K per placement, and they are likely to want to make several placements in the year.

Officers further remarked that they would like the director of Start Well to have delegated approval to award contracts which cost more than £500K in the future, and they are seeking legal advice around whether this would be possible.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Young People's Services APPROVED the following as advertised:

a)    To approve the purchase of individual and/or block placements, under the £500K threshold, for the children of Oxfordshire from the South-Central Residential Care Framework as a Consortium member.