Decision details

Reason for the decision:

Record of Decision 20/00035 was made to facilitate the bulk purchase of PPE to a value of £2m.  This decision represents additional expenditure of £3m bringing total expenditure to £5m.

The decision is required to allow for the continued bulk purchase of PPE. This forms an integral part of KCC’s response to the outbreak of the current novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and the measures to reduce the risk of further human-to-human transmission.

KCC’s role in the supply of PPE is to provide it to its own staff and, working with the Kent Resilience Forum (KRF), provide mutual aid to those outside of the NHS acute and ambulance services where their supply chains have failed such as care homes.  Mutual aid is for those who currently have close, unavoidable contact with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 cases, including highly vulnerable “shielded” groups, that can outline their needs in line with the latest clinical guidance.  Furthermore, it is only for those in urgent need in vital services, where service providers have explored their usual routes for PPE and there remains an urgent need for additional stock.

Reason for urgency:

The demand for PPE has increased significantly and been far greater than was envisaged when Record of Decision 20/00035 was made to facilitate the bulk purchase of PPE to a value of £2m; orders have already been placed to this value.  Further urgent bulk orders must now be placed of a similar magnitude to secure continuity of supplies. 

Background Information:

KCC took previous decision 20/00035 to allocate funding to allow for the swift purchase of PPE to ensure KCC was able to secure necessary stock while it was available.  This decision increases the funding available but similar funding increase may be required in the future depending on the development of the pandemic and PPE availability. 

Details regarding the ongoing management, distribution and mutual aid arrangements for PPE are being reviewed and will be further developed through additional decision making in due course.

Stock of PPE is derived from four sources including: MHCLG; KRF partners such as Kent Fire and Rescue, and SECAmb; donor organisations such as Universities; and purchases made by KCC.  The first three of the four sources provide the PPE free of charge to KCC with the expectation that KCC manages the logistics.  The overall stock of PPE from the four sources is combined to manage demand and availability, so it may be on a given day that demand including that from KCC staff, is fulfilled largely from MHCLG stock due to the non-availability of KCC stock, with the situation reversed on another day.  KCC is managing the logistics for the entire supply of PPE and bearing the cost through its trading company KCS (KCC is not charging for deliveries etc).

As Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate and Traded Services, I agree to increase the funding allocation from £2m to £5m to support the PPE purchase arrangements set out in Key Decision 20/00035 and maintain the previous agreements and delegations set out in that decision, which were as follows:

a)    The purchase of bulk Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including but not limited to masks, gloves, goggles, aprons, and hand sanitiser.

b)    The ongoing review and replenishment of KCC stocks of PPE as required to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

c)    Delegate authority to the Strategic Commissioner to take relevant actions, including but not limited to, reviewing and agreeing the necessary replenishment of stock over the course of the pandemic, placing orders and entering into relevant contracts and other legal agreements, as necessary to implement this decision.