Issue - meetings

The report detailed the outcome of a procurement process conducted in accordance with Contract Standing Orders (CSO) 12.03 and Regulation 11 (Competitive Process) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.

The Council sought approval to award contracts for the provision of Substance Misuse Residential Rehabilitation through a framework of suitable providers. This framework would allow residents to access appropriate rehabilitation centres based on assessed need and availability.

The procurement was subject to due process and therefore it was likely that the contract would start on 16 April 2026.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED

1. To approve the award of twenty (20) Framework Agreements to the ten (10) successful tenderers (listed in Appendix 1 – Part B (exempt information) of this report) for the provision of substance misuse residential rehabilitation services. The Framework Agreement shall run for a period of four years, commencing from 16 April 2026 to 31 March 2030.

2. To note that the maximum potential value across the Framework Agreements is £800,000. The actual value of each contract will depend on the number of placements made to each rehabilitation centre by the care manager and the number of bed nights used.

Reasons for decision

The Council had a statutory responsibility to commission substance misuse services, for which it received the ring-fenced substance misuse element of the Public Health Grant. Residential Rehabilitation is one form of evidence- based treatment. Effectively tackling addiction and helping residents recover is aligned with the Borough Plan, contributing to improved health, reduced crime, and strengthened community resilience.

The proposed awards were recommended to the providers who achieved the highest overall scores in the tender evaluation, having met all the Councils requirements.

Alternative options considered

Do nothing - The option of taking no action was rejected. Residential rehabilitation was an essential component of the borough’s statutory substance misuse treatment offer, and the Council received a ring-fenced public health grant specifically to support the provision. As part of the terms of the grant award, annually the council must agree with the funder a target number of people accessing residential rehabilitation. Failure to reach the target can lead to loss of income. Given the ongoing and significant need for intensive treatment among a proportion of residents, doing nothing would compromise treatment outcomes, limit access to evidence-based support, and fail to meet our statutory and grant-funded responsibilities.

The report sought approval to vary and extend the contract with Haringey Citizens Advice Bureaux for the provision of Information Advice and Guidance Service, as permitted under Contract Standing Orders (CSO)s 18.03, 0.08 and 2.01(d).

Subject to approval being granted, the variation would be for a period of two years, starting from 1st April 2026 at an annual cost of £726,536. The aggregated value of the contract including the proposed variation and extension was £4,473,933.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED

1. To approve in accordance with CSOs 18.03 variation of contract and 2.01(d) (variation of contract by Cabinet) as permitted under CSO 0.08 (Cabinet Member decision) for the provision of Information Advice and Guidance Service for a period of two years from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028, at an annual value of £726,536 subject to funding.

2. For delegated authority to be granted to the Corporate Director for Adult, Housing and Health to approve a further one-year extension from 1 April 2028 to 31 March 2029. This approach provides essential operational flexibility to accommodate any slippage in timelines while the Council undertakes a full competitive tender, ensuring uninterrupted support for residents throughout the transition. 

Reasons for decision

Haringey continued to face high levels of deprivation, homelessness risk, debt, and health inequalities, particularly among vulnerable groups such as disabled residents, migrants, and those with mental health needs.

The service provided early intervention to prevent crises such as eviction, unemployment, and hospitalisation, reducing reliance on statutory services and supporting residents to maximise income and sustain tenancies.

The Information, Advice and Guidance service contributed to key outcomes in the Council’s Corporate Delivery Plan 2024 –2026, including preventing homelessness, improving health and wellbeing, and connecting residents with timely support. It also supported compliance with the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. 3.4. By offering free, accessible advice on welfare benefits, debt management, and housing, the service helped reduce financial hardship, promote social inclusion, and improve life chances which support anti-poverty objectives.

The extension ensured continuity of a well-established partnership model co-funded by the Council and North Central London Integrated Care Board (NCL ICB), avoiding disruption to residents and cost-effectiveness.

Alternative options considered

Do Nothing: The Council could elect not to extend the Information Advice and Guidance service as it was not statutorily required to do so. However, this would leave Haringey residents without access to timely, local and specialist information and advice on key areas of need and inequality in the borough. This would be highly likely to increase the human and financial pressure on key Council and statutory services, i.e. without access to advice and guidance there would be an increase in number of residents at risk of eviction, which would place further burden on statutory services such as Temporary Accommodation and would have a further detrimental impact on the residents affected. Therefore, the option of doing nothing was considered and rejected.

Insourcing: Consideration was given to delivering the service in-house. This was deemed unsuitable because a core element of the service is the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6