Agenda item

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 provision of independent advice, including support for residents seeking to review or appeal decisions made by the Council or its partners. Citizens Advice were also a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulated to deliver Debt Advice. Insourcing would compromise this independence and reduce trust in the service. This option was therefore rejected.