Agenda item

Executive’s approval was sought to accept an offer of a 12 month contract extension from Derbyshire County Council (DCC), to continue to provide an Independent Living Service and a Community Alarm and Telecare Service, to people within the District.

The Council had operated the Independent Living Service (Care Line Service), within the District for many years to a mix of tenants and private customers and although the majority of people paid for the service, the contract with DCC also provided the service for people who were on low income.

Within the Council’s Care Line Service was the alarm and telecare monitoring service, which the majority of people paid for.  However, DCC also provided the service for people where there was an eligible health or social care need, as required by the Care Act (2014).

The Council was offered an Inter-Authority Agreement to deliver the DCC funded part of these services in 2019.  The initial contract was for a period of 2 years with a subsequent extension until March 2023.  DCC had now served an extension of contract notification, offering the Council a contract extension of both contracts until March 2024, i.e. an extension of 12 months.  No further extension would be permitted after this time.

The combined contracts would result in an income of £382,000 to the Council, to continue to provide the service and assist with the analogue to digital switchover in 2024.

Members welcomed the report.

In response to a Member’s query, the Assistant Director Housing Management and Enforcement, advised the meeting that DCC were currently consulting with their Care Act eligible customers on the DCC service going forward.  However, Housing officers were also working with the Care Line Manager on how the Council could pick up those customers if DCC were not able to continue the service in its current form, or in a form that worked for those customers.  The current priority for the Council was to get ready for the digital/analogue switchover, and later in the year, officers would work with the Finance team to look at fees and charges so customers who needed the service could still receive it for a small fee from the Council if DCC removed the service.  A report would be presented to Members later in the year.

Moved by Councillor Sandra Peake and seconded by Councillor Duncan McGregor

RESOLVED that (1) the offer of a 12 month contract extension to continue to provide an Independent Living Service to people within the District be accepted,

(2) the offer of a 12 month contract extension to continue to provide a Community Alarm and Telecare Service to people within the District be accepted.

(Assistant Director Housing Management and Enforcement)

Reason for Recommendations

The services are well regarded by residents and Bolsover District Council is a trusted provider.

Accepting the offer of a contract extension for both contracts is a positive outcome for customers and for the Council.

The Council continued to extend the service and attract more customers, the majority who self-fund.  This is part of a strategy to ensure that the Council was not dependent on DCC funding to operate the service, but would be self-sufficient if not successful in winning future tenders.

In order to ensure the Council was not reliant on any further DCC funding, the service continued to be extended, improved, and promoted for paying customers.

The offer of a contract extension provided certainty until March 2024 and should be accepted.

Alternative Options and Reasons for Rejection

Not to accept the contract extensions.  Rejected as this would have a detrimental impact on vulnerable customers.