Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2016/090

Contact: Richard Webb, Head of Community Protection Services Tel: (01865) 815791

Report by Chief Fire Officer (CMDDL5).

The information contained in the annex is exempt in that it falls within the following prescribed category:

3.       Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

and since it is considered that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, in that where information has been supplied in commercial confidence such disclosure would prejudice the commercial position of the parties involved and would prejudice the position of the authority's investments to the detriment of the Council’s ability properly to discharge its fiduciary and other duties as a public authority.

Oxfordshire Council Council Gypsy and Traveller Service currently provides services to Buckinghamshire County Council, Brent Housing Partnership and Ealing Council. These services include Gypsy and Traveller site management functions and unauthorised encampment management. The contract for the provision of these services to Brent Housing Partnership commenced in 2010 and expires in January 2017. This contract has been retendered by Brent Housing Partnership.

This report provides background to the opportunity to contract to provide a Gypsy and Traveller service to Brent Housing Partnership. The report contains a full appraisal of the costs, benefits, opportunities and risks involved should Oxfordshire County Council enter into a further contract with this organisation. Cabinet Member approval is required to enter into a contract for the provision of services to another authority. This paper is intended to enable the Deputy Leader of the Council to considering authorising the provision of Gypsy and Traveller services to Brent Housing Partnership.

The Deputy Leader of the Council is RECOMMENDED to-

(a)        Approve the continued provision of Traveller site management services to Brent Housing Partnership on the condition that the proposed contract is amended to remove financial penalties for non-compliance with performance indicators relating to rent arrears and subject to a break clause being inserted, and

(b)       Authorise the Head of Community Protection Services to conclude negotiations with Brent Housing Partnership relating to this contract, and

(c)        Authorise the Head of Community Protection Services to conclude negotiations with Ealing Council relating to a contract for the provision of Traveller Site Management Services to that Council,

(d)        Authorise the Head of Community Protection Services to enter into a legal agreement with Brent Housing Partnership and Ealing Council.

Recommendations agreed whilst asking officers to ensure a satisfactory outcome to the issues outlined at the meeting.