Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education.

The report provides an overview of the current commissioning arrangements for Speech and Language therapy and Occupational Therapy for SEND children in Stockport. We have a duty to provide these under the Children and Family Act and SEND Code of Practice.

The report highlights the need to recommission the current services. In order that we are within legal contractual timeframes but also to ensure the strategic direction continues to a holistic outcomes-based offer across Stockport. The paper seeks permission to proceed through governance to a procurement following legal guidelines.

The Cabinet is recommended to:-

(1) Confirm that in principle the council can enter into the procurement process as referred to in this report and enter into the future contract once a provider has been chosen following the procurement process;

(2) Delegate to the Director of Education, Work and Skills in consultation with the portfolio for Children, Families and Education and the Assistant Director, Governance to agree to the terms of the contract to be awarded; and

(3) Delegate to the Assistant Director, Governance to enter into any documentation required to give effect to the procurement process and contract award or any related legal agreements arising of the project as a whole.

Officer contact: Tim Bowman on 0161 474 3947 or by email: tim.bowman@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education (Councillor Wendy Meikle) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the current commissioning arrangements for Speech and Language therapy and Occupational Therapy for SEND children in Stockport and highlighting the need to recommission the current services.

RESOLVED - (1) That it be confirmed in principle that the council enter into the procurement process as referred to in this report and enter into the future contract once a provider has been chosen following the procurement process.

(2) That authority be delegated to the Director of Education, Work and Skills in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education and the Assistant Director for Governance to agree to the terms of the contract to be awarded; and

(3) That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director for Governance to enter into any documentation required to give effect to the procurement process and contract award or any related legal agreements arising of the project as a whole.

To consider a report of the Director of Education, Work & Skills.

The report sets out the arrangements for the procurement of contracts to fulfil our statutory responsibilities in relation to providing Speech, Language and Occupational Therapy services for children and young people of school age with additional needs.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on and to note the report.

Officer contact: Laura Mercer | laura.mercer@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Education, Work & Skills submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the arrangements for the procurement of contracts to fulfil our statutory responsibilities in relation to providing Speech, Language and Occupational Therapy services for children and young people of school age with additional needs.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education (Councillor Wendy Meikle) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Clarification was sought regarding the 4-year contract and the £7m budget. In response, it was noted that the contract has not yet been negotiated, however, growth is expected and will be a consideration for providers when going out to the market.

·       It was noted that just under a million pounds was spent each year on speech and language therapy and occupational therapy, with a 4-year contract extending for up to 3 years which gives a £7m budget.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.