Decision details

Cabinet Member approval sought for extension of Revenue Services, Benefit Services and Enforcement Agent contracts.

1.            That this report be exempt from disclosure by virtue of the Local Government Act 1972 Schedule 12A, Part 1, paragraph 3 (as amended), in that it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and paragraph 5 (as amended) information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

2.                     That the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property & Corporate Services approved a waiver to the tendering requirements of the Procurement Code to enable an extension to the contracts as set out in 3. below.

3.         That the Cabinet Member approved the extension of the following contracts to the contract end dates specified below:-

(i)            Revenue Services – To the organisation for the extension period with an option to extend on a monthly basis up to the date as set out in the report, subject to the specified notice.

(ii)          Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support Service - To the organisation for the extension period with an option to extend on a monthly basis up to the date as set out in the report, subject to the specified notice.

(iii)         Enforcement Agent Service - To the organisation for the extension period with an option to extend on a monthly basis up to the date as set out in the report, subject to the specified notice.

(iv)       Reserve Enforcement Agent Service - To the organisation for the extension period with an option to extend on a monthly basis up to the date as set out in the report, subject to the specified notice.

4.                     That the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Corporate Services noted the proposed reduction in contract price secured for the extension period in respect of Revenue Services and Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support Service.

Reasons for Decision

The cessation of the previous two procurements has resulted in there being an insufficient period of time for the services to be re-procured prior to the current contract end dates and therefore the contracts have to be extended. However, it has still been possible to deliver savings against the existing contract price during the period of the extension.