Issue - meetings

Report by Director for Adult Social Care

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to:

a)    Agree that the Council extend the HOWDAB2 Supported Living contracts Lot 1, 2, 4, 8 and 9 currently delivered by Brandon Trust. The extension will be for a further 44 days, from 14 September 2026 to 27 October 2026. This will maintain continuity of support while the Council undertakes a further tender process for Lot 4, Lot 8 and Lot 9 following the outcome of the previous procurement exercise. The extension for Lots 1 and 2 will allow mobilisation and contract start dates to be aligned with the Lot 4, 8 and 9 replacement contracts, without requiring a further tender process for those lots.

b)   Note that the Director of Adult Social Care has already approved a 44-day extension from 1 August 2026 to 13 September 2026 under delegated decision arrangements. This was to allow additional time for the procurement process for HOWDAB2 Supported Living contracts Lot 1, 2, 4, 8 and 9 and full mobilisation of the replacement contracts.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which indicated that a further 44-day extension was now required from 14 September 2026 to 27 October 2026, also valued at £928,064.34, to provide sufficient time to recommence and complete a further tender process for HOWDAB2 Supported Living contracts Lot 4, Lot 8 and Lot 9 and mobilisation arrangements.

The proposed extension would enable the HOWDAB2 Supported Living contracts Lot 1 and Lot 2 to be mobilised and transferred at the same time as the replacement contracts for Lot 4, Lot 8 and Lot 9. Aligning the mobilisation and transfer arrangements across the current Brandon Trust contracts would support a coordinated transition and help avoid unnecessary disruption and confusion for people who receive support, their families and staff.

The extension was necessary to ensure continued and consistent support for people with a learning disability and/or autism while a new procurement process was undertaken.

a)             Agree that the Council extend the HOWDAB2 Supported Living contracts Lot 1, 2, 4, 8 and 9 currently delivered by Brandon Trust. The extension will be for a further 44 days, from 14 September 2026 to 27 October 2026. This will maintain continuity of support while the Council undertakes a further tender process for Lot 4, Lot 8 and Lot 9 following the outcome of the previous procurement exercise. The extension for Lots 1 and 2 will allow mobilisation and contract start dates to be aligned with the Lot 4, 8 and 9 replacement contracts, without requiring a further tender process for those lots.

b)             Note that the Director of Adult Social Care has already approved a 44-day extension from 1 August 2026 to 13 September 2026 under delegated decision arrangements. This was to allow additional time for the procurement process for HOWDAB2 Supported Living contracts Lot 1, 2, 4, 8 and 9 and full mobilisation of the replacement contracts.