Issue - meetings

That:

1)               a joint procurement exercise for an Integrated Children’s Therapy Service for Wokingham be undertaken with West Berkshire and Reading local authorities;

2)               the three local authorities jointly procure as a single lot resulting in a single contract signed by the supplier and the three local authorities;

3)               the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Lead Member for Children’s Services, be delegated authority to award the contract to the successful bidder following completion of the evaluation process. The estimated WBC budget is £389,520 per annum.

The Executive considered a report setting out proposals for a joint procurement of an Integrated Children’s Therapy Service for Wokingham, in partnership with West Berkshire and Reading local authorities.

The Executive Member for Children’s Services highlighted that the Council currently commissioned Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy and Physiotherapy for children and young people with Education Care and Health Plans.  In addition, the Council had been exploring opportunities to work collaboratively with Brighter Futures for Children, Reading and West Berkshire Councils to explore a joint commissioning approach for future provision of these services for their local populations.  Councillor Howe confirmed that this strategic approach to planning and procuring services in a joined way was a means for local authority partners to deliver value for money, positive outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

Following a query by Councillor Kaiser it was confirmed that what was being proposed was not a joint service and Wokingham would be leading on the procurement of the service.

Councillor Blumenthal queried why the Council was going down the joint procurement route and not on its own?  Councillor Howe explained that a large number of specialists were involved in the provision of these services, and it would be expensive for the Council to set up and manage the provision on its own.  In addition, there was the chance that the Council would end up competing with neighbouring authorities for the services of those specialists.   It therefore made sense to collaborate on these specialisms.

RESOLVED that:

1)               a joint procurement exercise for an Integrated Children’s Therapy Service for Wokingham be undertaken with West Berkshire and Reading local authorities;

2)               the three local authorities jointly procure as a single lot resulting in a single contract signed by the supplier and the three local authorities;

3)               the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Lead Member for Children’s Services, be delegated authority to award the contract to the successful bidder following completion of the evaluation process. The estimated WBC budget is £389,520 per annum.