Issue - meetings

Report by the Strategic Director for Public Health (CMDPHED4)

The report sets out the background and rationale for seeking authorisation for an exemption from the tendering requirements under OCC’s Contract Procedure Rules to enter into 3 year plus 2-year contract with Oxford Homeless Pathway Limited to provide drug and alcohol recovery-based supported accommodation services to the Council (“The Sapling Project”).

Contract Procedure Rules require an advertised Invitation to Tender. In normal circumstances this procedure would be followed however Public Health requests approval to an over £75,000 exemption to enter into a 3 plus 2-year contract with the current provider. Exemptions over £75,000 require authorisation from Cabinet or where applicable - in most cases - the Portfolio Holder exercising Delegated Powers (Delegated Decisions by individual Cabinet Members - the Constitution Part 4.4)

The Sapling Project provides transitional supported accommodation (7 beds) from residential detox for Oxfordshire residents. The Service Users who attend this Project are fully detoxed but may still be engaging in psychosocial support. This is a ‘clean’ project. Support is recovery focused and holistic including both one-to-one and group work and life skills development, delivered within the project. Additionally, this project supports service users to engage in community based recovery, volunteering and ETE activities.

The report covers the background, reasons for exemption, performance and value for money along with financial and legal appraisals in annex 1 and 2.

The Cabinet Member for Public Health & Education is RECOMMENDED to authorise an over £75,000 exemption to enter into a 3 plus 2-year contract with the current provider (Oxford Homeless Pathways) for the provision of the Sapling Project, an Oxfordshire based residential recovery project for people transitioning from substance misuse treatment.

Recommendation agreed.