Agenda item

(Report of the Director of Adult and Housing Services to be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care) To seek agreement to enter into a framework arrangement for the purchase, delivery, collection, maintenance and recycling of community equipment with the West London Consortium.

Cabinet received a report that set out proposals with respect to changes in the way community equipment from Haringey Council would be issued.

Prior to consideration of the report a deputation was taken from Mr Chris Taylor of UNISON.

Mr Taylor began by noting that UNSION was pleased that the decision with respect to this item had been taken to Cabinet for decision. He expressed concern regarding the public consultation that had been undertaken and contended that the questions used in the survey had been designed in such a way as to lead people towards agreeing with the changes proposed. Mr Taylor also noted that the use of ‘plain English’ would have been helpful.

With regard to the consultation and communication with staff and UNISON Mr Taylor contended that this had been carried out in an inconsistent way and that information that was given verbally had not subsequently been followed up with written confirmation. He suggested that the lack of written records

In conclusion Mr Taylor contended that linking the proposed changes to the move towards offering service users greater choice was misleading as these were not separate issues.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Services, Councillor Vanier, thanked Mr Taylor for his deputation and noted that the public consultation undertaken had taken place over a one month period and that as part of this three hundred users of services, families and others had been contacted. The views of those who had responded, along with an Equalities Impact Assessment, were included within the report.

It was noted that the point of the consultation had been to inform the public that the service would be outsourced and to provide assurance that any new model of service delivery would continue to meet the needs of service users.

Councillor Vanier noted that at a staff meeting held on 5 March 2012, which was attended by UNISON, it had been clarified that management intended to initiate an informal consultation process with staff. At this meeting staff were advised of the timetable for the formal consultation process and that this was expected to commence at the end of March for a one month period. In addition staff had also been advised that if the proposals were agreed these would include a TUPE agreement.

Cabinet then considered the report and further discussion regarding exempt information, set out under Item 27 of the agenda, was discussed in closed session.

RESOLVED:

1. That the outsourcing of the Community Equipment Service be approved.

2. That the Council should enter into a call-off contract with an external provider under a framework arrangement set up for Local Authorities in London.

3. That the call-off contract for the purchase, delivery, collection, maintenance and recycling of complex community equipment (as recommended in exempt Appendix A of the report) starts as soon as is practical in 2012 (currently anticipated to be in November) and shall continue in force until 31^st March 2015 (subject to the provisions for extension or earlier termination) with the option to extend the arrangement for a further two year period thereafter.

4. That the total anticipated costs and savings of £82k and the financial and other comparisons made between various options in exempt Appendices A and B be noted.