Cabinet Member decisions

Proposed decision:

 The Deputy Leader to agree to:

1.    Approve the sale of the property for £1.523m under the auction terms and conditions;

2.    Confirm the Director of Infrastructure’s decision under delegated authority to dispose of the property known as Gravesend Adult Education Centre, Darnley Road, Gravesend DA11 0RX, noting that the property’s performance at auction exceeded the delegated limit underpinning the original disposal plan; and

3.    Delegate authority to the Director of Infrastructure, in consultation with the Deputy Leader, to finalise the sale and take other actions including but not limited to, entering into relevant contracts or other legal agreements, as necessary to implement this decision

Reason for the decision:

Under competitive tension, as part of an auction sale, the property sold for a figure exceeding the £1m threshold and so now requires a key decision, which was not previously anticipated. Due to the timescales involved in the property transaction an urgent key decision is sought.

Background

The former Gravesend Adult Education Centre, Darnley Road, Gravesend DA11 0RX had been approved for sale via delegated management of the property portfolio, in accordance with the Asset Disposal Policy. Authority was in place to support the sale via auction of the property as the price was expected to fall well within the normal delegated limits under the Property Management Protocol. The property went to auction on the 11 December 2025. The hammer price achieved was £1,523,000, exceeding the limits of the £1m officer delegation; urgent authority is needed to regularise the governance position in respect of the previous delegated decision. Due to the timescales involved the decision is following the urgent decision pathway.

Options (other options considered but discarded)

This is a decision to regularise KCC’s Governance requirements. Not doing so would render the delegated decision that this refers to ultra vires.

How the proposed decision supports the Council’s Strategic Statement

The proposed decision supports the Council’s Strategic Statement by raising capital for reinvestment to enable KCC to deliver improvements to visible community and infrastructure services, whilst also streamlining KCC’s property portfolio, contributing towards the reduction of KCCs’ debt burden and releasing monies back into front line services.

As Deputy Leader, I agree to:

1.    Approve the sale of the property for £1.523m under the auction terms and conditions;

2.    Confirm the Director of Infrastructure’s decision under delegated authority to dispose of the property known as Gravesend Adult Education Centre, Darnley Road, Gravesend DA11 0RX, noting that the property’s performance at auction exceeded the delegated limit underpinning the original disposal plan; and

3.    Delegate authority to the Director of Infrastructure, in consultation with the Deputy Leader, to finalise the sale and take other actions including but not limited to, entering into relevant contracts or other legal agreements, as necessary to implement this decision.

Proposed decision.

1. APPROVE the commissioning arrangements and continued contracting with primary care via a procurement compliant process for the delivery of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception, from 1 December 2026 up to no later than 31 March 2033.

2. DELEGATE authority to the Director of Public Health to undertake all necessary actions to implement the decision, including, but not limited to, awarding new contracts, finalising terms, entering into contracts, initiating extensions, formalising variation and establishing any required legal agreements.

Reason for the decision

Kent County Council (KCC) has a statutory duty to provide reasonable access to a broad range of contraceptive substances and appliances as per Section 6 of The Local Authorities (Public Health Functions and Entry to Premises by Local Health Watch Representatives) Regulations 2013.

Unplanned pregnancies are significant contributors to poor health outcomes, and provision of the LARC service plays an important role in reducing the negative consequences and costs of it. Continuing to commission LARC through primary care offers advantages in terms of accessibility, convenience, patient choice, comprehensive care, and cost-effectiveness.

The current Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) Service in Primary Care contract is due to end on 30 November 2026. To ensure continuity of service, new contracts are required for the delivery within primary care.

Background

Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) is a clinically effective and cost-efficient contraception method, currently delivered via integrated sexual health services and primary care providers. All practitioners providing the commissioned service have achieved a relevant Letter of Competence issued by College of Sexual and Reproductive Health (CoSRH).

The service provides LARC fitting and removal procedures to women who opt to use these methods to prevent pregnancy. Approximately 11,000 LARC procedures are performed annually in primary care settings (currently 102 practices) across Kent.

Options (other options considered but discarded)

1.   Cease commissioning through primary care - discarded due to reduced accessibility and increased pressure on integrated specialist services.

2.   Commission via a single provider model - discarded due to lack of flexibility and geographic coverage.

3.   Continue commissioning directly from multiple primary care providers via a Direct Award B (as per Procurement Act 2023) - preferred for accessibility and continuity.

The proposal is to continue commissioning LARC directly from multiple primary care providers via a Direct Award B (as per Procurement Act 2023) process. The recommendation is to maintain and strengthen these services, ensuring the council meets its statutory obligation.

 Benefits of this approach include:

-      Good geographical coverage across the county ensuring equitable service, as the same service is available regardless of geographical area in the county.

-      Fostering accessibility and patient choice.

-      The commissioning authority remains close to the communities, able to respond to local needs.

-      Direct assurance of each provider’s competence which supports good quality and safety of the service.

-      Maintaining control and access to service data and ability to audit performance.

-      Flexibility for GP practices to contract on behalf of other practices to improve access.

-      Value for money benefits demonstrated by the public health outcomes and the resulting return on investment to the wider system.

How the proposed decision supports the Framing Kent's Future - Our Council Strategy 2022-2026

This service contributes to ‘Priority 1: Levelling up Kent’ of the Framing Kent’s Future Our Council Strategy 2022-2026 as providing contraception to women can prevent unplanned pregnancies, which is a preventative approach of improving the populations health and narrowing health inequalities.

This approach aligns with Securing Kent’s Future - Budget Recovery Strategy and the council’s Best Value Statutory responsibility, as this decision prioritises best value considerations. This is a preventative service with evidence of good Return on Investment and can help reduce demand into other KCC services and across the health and social care system.

Locally, the provision of the services supports the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Strategy, supporting its ‘Shared Outcome 4: Empower People to Best Manage their Health Conditions’ and delivers the recently published Kent Sexual Health Needs Assessment 2024.

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

1. APPROVE the re-commissioning arrangements and continued contracting with primary care via a procurement compliant process for the delivery of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception. The new contract will commence on 1 December 2026 for an initial period of four years and four months, with the option to extend for up to two additional one-year periods, ending no later than 31 March 2033.

2. DELEGATE authority to the Director of Public Health to undertake all necessary actions, including, but not limited to awarding contracts, finalising terms, entering into legal agreements, and making  any necessary refinements to the commissioning strategy over the life of the contract as described to implement the decision, providing they do not require additional governance.

3. DELEGATE authority to the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health to utilise the relevant contract extensions