Agenda item

To receive a report of the Chairman of the Select Committee on Commissioning, Mr Mike Angell, containing the final report of the Select Committee for consideration and comment before it is considered by full council on 15^th May 2014.

– report of MrAngell,Chairmanof theSelect Committeeon Commissioning)

(1)     Mr Angell,Chairman oftheSelectCommitteeon Commissioning andCommittee MembersMr Birkby,MrCowan and MrVye, werein attendancetospeak totheitem. MrAngell introducedthe report and inparticularreferredto the following:

i.        That thereportfocused onissuesofprocurement,contractmanagement, decommissioningandrecommissioningand the provision ofsocial value.

ii.       Thatthe reportmaderecommendationsrelatingto thereductionofbarriers to goodcommissioning.Therewere five keyrecommendations:

•       Twooutwardlooking: ensuringthatbetterengagementwith the commissioning marketplace wasenabled;andthatthemarketplace wasdeveloped and supported

•       Twoinward looking:That the needfor culturalchangewithin KCC shouldbe identifiedand implemented; andthatthecurrent commissioningprocessshouldbe simplifiedand standardised.

•     Finally, thereport considered therole ofmembersin asuccessful commissioningauthority.

(2)     Mr Birkbyspoke totheitem; heacknowledged thatKentCountyCouncilwas already commissioning servicesvery wellin someareas butthatthe standardwas not currently consistentacross thecouncil.     Hebelieved thatelected member involvementwould providethe overarchingmonitoringand reviewthat wasrequired to create that consistency.

(3)     Mr CowanaddressedCabinet.  He thankedtheChairman for thefairand accessible way inwhich hehad managedtheCommitteeandthewitnesses fortheir openand honestaccounts.  He remindedmembersthatthe LabourGroup wouldnot support commissioningor outsourcingofservicesbuthopedto influencethedebateas part of the Committee.  MrCowan set outtheissues thatwere ofparticularimportanceto theLabourGroup:

•       That any servicesprocured orcommissionedshould onlybe sofromentities withinwhich KCChad retaineda 51%share,in orderthatcontrolcould be maintainedand standardscould beenforced

•    ThatVoluntarySector grantfundingshouldremainbutwith morerigorous controls imposedonthe award.   Thiswouldavoid voluntaryorganisations beingdisadvantagedby anonerousprocess.  Witnessesfromthevoluntary sector hadgiven clearevidence thatvoluntary organisations werewell- equipped to deliverservices butnot to conductproductionofcomplicatedbids orstaffingarrangementssuch as tupe.

(4)     He wenton tomake thefollowing points:

i.      Thatthenew SocialValue Actwhich hadcome intoforcein January2013 should beproperlyreflected in the council’spolicies.

ii.    Thata MemberCommitteeshouldbe establishedinordertomonitorand control allcommissioningprocesses and resultingcontracts.

iii.      Thatstaffshouldbe protectedandwherever possibleservicesshouldbe kept ‘in-house’.     KCC officersgivingevidence had  been  clear  that  this  was achievablewith changesto working practices.

(5)     Finally,    Mr    Vye    brought    the    following    to    the    attention    of    members:

i.      Thattheskills ofthevoluntary andcommunitysector shouldbecapturedin orderto helpdeliver theobjectivesofthecouncilwhere itwas appropriate andthatgrants shouldbe consideredwhere thiswas necessaryto enable smallerorganisationsto engage.

ii.   Thatrecommendation19 relatedtothebreakingup ofcontractsintosmaller lotshad beenincludedin orderthatthework of smallerorganisations in particular localitiesmightbe continuedand excellentservices provided,but officers  were  clear  that  meeting  reduced  budgets  would  be  made  more difficultshouldthis be introduced.

iii.   That recommendation 26 which suggested the creationofa member oversight groupwould helpto addresssuchissues.  Hesuggested that ifthe committeewere establishedit shouldbe taskedwith helpingto create strategiccommissioningpolicy.

(6)     Mr  Gibbens,  Cabinet  Member  for  Adult  Social  Care  and  Health  addressed  the meetingandwelcomedthereport.  He spokeoftheexcellent work thatwas currently beingundertakenby thevoluntary sector andagreed thattheserelationshipsshould continuewhere at allpossible.   Therewere manygood ideas,that shouldbe investigated,containedwithin thereport.  Hereportedthat ASCcurrently maintained agrant system andargued thatthis typeoffundingwould never completely.  He particularly welcomed theemphasisofthe reporton goodmanagementandurged thatthiscontinue,he notedthatmanagement was oftenmade easierwhen less providerswere involvedin delivery butrestatedhis commitmentto thevoluntary sector.

(7)     Mrs Whittle,CabinetMemberforChildren’s SocialCare andHealthwelcomed the recommendationthatmemberswere involved inthe managementofcommissioned services.  Shehopedthatthisgroup might also providean earlywarning where voluntary organisationshad experienced financialdifficultiesin orderthat KCCcould offersupportor directthe organisationto othergrant awardingbodies suchas the Lotteryto ensurethat serviceswere notaffected.  Reducingrelianceon onefinancial source wouldalso strengthenthe voluntarysectors abilityto managechange.

(8)     Mr Sweetland,CabinetMember forTradedServices stressedtheimportanceof maintainingties withvoluntary sectororganisations, evenwhere grantfundingmight cease.   Hewelcomedthe focusthatthereportbroughttotheroleofMembersin holdingto accounttheExecutive andofficersimplementingchange.   Finally he acknowledgedthe usefulness of a focus on‘social value’andhopedthat thedesire to maintainand createsocialvalue throughsuch relationshipswould be valuedin a new commissioningculture.

(9)     Mr Cooke,CabinetMemberfor Corporateand DemocraticServices welcomedthe report andcommentedspecificallyon recommendation26,thecreation of aMember oversightCommitteeor Group.   HeremindedmembersthattheMembersteering group wasnow reconstitutedand hadwithin itsremit issuesof Membertraining development.  Ensuringthat membershad theright skillsto engagein theoversight ofa commissioningcouncilwould bea priorityfor thisgroup.

(10)   Mr Simmondsconcludedthediscussion byremindingmembersthatthe protectionof frontline serviceswould continue tobeofthehighest importancebutthat therewere furtherimprovementsto thecommissioning andprocurementprocessesthatwould enablethecouncilto makefurthersavings andmeetreducedfundingtargets.  He agreedthatcontinuedwork withvoluntary sector organisations,linkedto apprenticeships,was critical tomaintainservicesbut thata professionalapproachto deliverymust bemaintainedby allservice providers.

(11)   Finally he tooagreed thattraining memberswould becrucial tothesuccess ofthe programmeandwelcomedthereportsrecommendationtoensurethat members wereinvolved.

(12)   Nofurthercommentswere received.  Cabinet notedthereport byconsensusandthe absence of objection.