Cabinet Member decisions

The Cabinet Member will agree a Freight Action Plan for Kent.

The Freight Action Plan for Kent is a non-statutory document that highlights what KCC has already delivered and what is further planned to reduce the negative impacts of road freight on local communities. The plan includes both nationally and locally important priorities such as Operation Stack and the provision of overnight lorry parking as well as looking into HGV routeing and the powers that KCC can use to reduce the negative impacts of road freight.

The Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste has agreed the Freight Action Plan for Kent.

Proposed decision: To award the contract for Kent and Medway Prison Based Drug & Alcohol Services to a provider decided by competitive tender, with the contract to commence on 2^nd October 2017.

How the decision relates to BS4K and Corporate Objectives: The decision will support corporate objectives by completing a planned and well-managed competitive tendering of the East Kent Drug and Alcohol service.  This will ensure services are commissioned in line with identified need, to deliver corporate priorities on prevention, improved public health and better value for money.

Financial Implications: In excess of £20m over the life of the contract

Legal Implications: None

Equality Implications: None.

The matter is referred to in the Directorate Business Plan/Medium Term Capital Programme.

The Cabinet Member for Strategic Commissioning and Public health has agreed to award the contract for Kent and Medway Prisons Drug and Alcohol Service the Rehabilitation of Addicted Prisoners Trust following the conclusion of the procurement process.

The Education Funding Agency (EfA) approached Kent County Council to deliver construction projects approved under the Priority Schools Building Programme Round 2.  Projects at Swadelands School, Lenham and Benenden C of E Primary School are the two initial schemes to be delivered.  Further schemes are under discussion and further decisions regarding additional projects will be required in due course.

The Education Funding Agency will provide the appropriate level of funding relating to the Priority School Building Programme Round 2 projects. A detailed Business Case will be provided to the EFA and a Funding Approval letter will be issued confirming the extent of funding to be provided. The construction specification will follow the requirements laid down by the EFA within the Priority School Building Programme.

There is a budget allocation within the Budget Book relating to the Priority School Building Programme, which was agreed to cover additional costs for Basic Need expansions; relocation of existing services and associated costs within both Priority Schools Building Programme Round 1 and 2.

The Swadelands School, Lenham requires the replacement of the current Science classroom building, which is of poor condition and undersized for the requirements of the school.  The EfA have approved the detailed design.

KCC will be provided with a Project Support Grant by the EFA to undertake these projects directly.  The Project Support Grant provides for feasibility and survey costs, together with Project Management costs associated with delivery of each scheme. 

In relation to construction contracts and other related agreements to enable pre-agreed projects under the Priority School Building Programme to be managed by KCC at Swadelands School, Lenham and Benenden C of E Primary School, Benenden, on behalf of the Education Funding Agency, the Cabinet Member for Corporate and Democratic Services has agreed to:

a)     Authorise the Director of Infrastructure in Consultation with the General Counsel to enter into any necessary contracts/agreements on behalf of the County Council and

b)     Authorise the Director of Infrastructure to ensure that the appropriate level of funding is received from the Education Funding Agency to cover the costs of these projects to ensure the Kent County Council does not incur any unforeseen costs and

c)     Authorise the Director of Infrastructure to be the nominated Authority Representative within the relevant contracts/agreements and to enter into variations as envisaged under the contract terms.

To continue service provision under existing contracts for the following community support services:

a)     Housing Related Support (HRS), including services for:

o    Older Persons Housing Related Support and Community Alarms

o    People with Learning and/or Physical Disabilities

o    Home Improvement Agencies

People with Mental Health Needs; (Homelessness and Offenders)

b)   Homecare

c)     Supporting Independence Service (SIS)

It was originally envisaged that all three services would be included in one decision but, owing to timing issues, the Housing Related Support element (Part (a)) was taken 22/03/2017 with parts (b) and (c) to follow before June 2017.

Given the freedoms set out in the Care Act 2014, since these contracts started, and the Council’s strategy for adult social care, ‘Your Life Your Wellbeing’, there is now an opportunity to move to greater integration with health services. To achieve this, it is desirable to extend these services’ contracts to a single end date.

This will help achieve the corporate objectives of:

·               Strategic Outcome

·               Older and vulnerable residents are safe and supported with choices to live independently

Supporting Outcomes

·               Those with long term conditions are supported to manage their conditions through access to good quality care and support

·               People with mental health issues and dementia are assessed and treated earlier and are supported to live well

·               Families and carers of vulnerable and older people have access to the advice, information and support they need

·               Older and vulnerable residents feel socially included

·               More people receive quality care at home avoiding unnecessary admissions to hospital and care homes

·               The health and social care system works together to deliver high quality community services

·               Residents have greater choice and control over the health and social care services they receive

Your Life Your Wellbeing - providing the strategic direction to move towards full integration with the NHS by 2020.                  

17/00030 (b) - Community Support Services – Homecare contract continuation or variation through mutual negotiation

As Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, I agree to:

a) continue, for some contracted providers, service provision on the existing terms and conditions through to 31 May 2019 and for other contracted providers where mutual negotiation can be agreed, to award varied interim contracts through to 31 May 2019;

b) delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Social Care, Health and Wellbeing, or other nominated officer, to undertake the necessary actions to implement the decision; and

c) authorise officers to commence market engagement in readiness for the full procurement process, where required.

17/00030 (c) - Community Support Services – Supporting Independence Service contract continuation or variation through mutual negotiation

As Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, I agree to:

a) continue service provision on the existing, or varied, terms and conditions through to 31 May 2019 and for other contracted providers where mutual negotiation can be agreed, to award varied interim contracts through to 31 May 2019;

b) delegateauthority to the Corporate Director of Social Care, Health and Wellbeing, or other nominated officer, to undertake the necessary actions to implement the decision; and

c) authoriseofficers to commence market engagement in readiness for the full procurement process, where required.