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Agenda, decisions and minutes

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Contact: Democratic Services Team 

Items
No. Item

52.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 114 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 17 October 2019.

Minutes:

Councillor Lynne Doherty opened the meeting and formally welcomed Councillor Ross Mackinnon onto the Executive as the new Portfolio Holder for Finance. She gave thanks to the former Finance Portfolio Holder, Councillor Jeff Cant, for his service in the role.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 17 October 2019 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Leader.

Councillor Carolyne Culver advised of contact she had received from a member of the public who felt that a correction was needed to the transcription of the questions and answers from the last meeting. She questioned the route to challenge this when this detail was contained within the verbatim question and answer document and not the minutes.

Shiraz Sheikh, Deputy Monitoring Officer, advised that this would need to be challenged by contacting the Monitoring Officer directly and not via a correction to the previous minutes.

53.

Declarations of Interest

To remind Members of the need to record the existence and nature of any personal, disclosable pecuniary or other registrable interests in items on the agenda, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Minutes:

Councillor Richard Somner declared an interest in Agenda Item 6 by virtue of the fact that he worked as a Contract Manager for the Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (the current service provider for sexual and reproductive health services), but reported that, as his interest was a personal or an other registrable interest, but not a disclosable pecuniary interest, he determined to remain in the meeting, but would not participate in the debate or vote on the matter.

Councillor Graham Bridgman declared an interest in Agenda Items 5 and 6 by virtue of the fact that was a Governor of the Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and either organisation could bid for the two contracts, although he would not be involved personally. He determined therefore, that as his interest was a personal or an other registrable interest, but not a disclosable pecuniary interest, that he would take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

54.

Petitions

Councillors or Members of the public may present any petition which they have received. These will normally be referred to the appropriate Committee without discussion.

Minutes:

There were no petitions presented to the Executive.

55.

0-19 (up to 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities) Public Health Nursing Service Contract Award (EX3816) pdf icon PDF 99 KB

CSP: PC1 and PC2

Purpose: To inform Members of the tender process and to seek delegated authority for the Head of Public Health & Wellbeing, in consultation with the Executive Director of Resources and the Portfolio Holder for Public Health & Community Wellbeing, to award the contract for the provision of 0-19 (up to 25 years for young people with special educational needs and disabilities) Public Health Nursing Services.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved that authority be delegated to the Head of Public Health & Wellbeing, in consultation with the Executive Director of Resources and the Portfolio Holder for Public Health & Community Wellbeing, to award the contract to the successful bidder following the evaluation process for the provision of 0-19 (up to 25 years for young people with special educational needs and disabilities) Public Health Nursing Services from 1st April 2020. This procurement has been carried out to align commissioning timescales for a joint contract with Wokingham and Reading Borough Council from 1st April 2021 and align with the emerging Integrated Care Partnership.

 

This decision is not subject to call in as:

 

·      a delay in implementing the decision could cause the Council serious financial implications or could compromise the Council's position.

 

therefore it will be implemented immediately.

Minutes:

The Executive considered the report (Agenda Item 5) which sought to inform Members of the tender process and which sought delegated authority for the Head of Public Health and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Executive Director of Resources and the Portfolio Holder for Public Health and Community Wellbeing, to award the contract for the provision of 0-19 (up to 25 years for young people with special educational needs and disabilities) Public Health Nursing Services.

Councillor Rick Jones made comments in relation to this report and the subsequent agenda item (Sexual and Reproductive Health Contract Award). He explained that a large aspect of Public Health Services were statutory and this included prevention services.

The strategic direction for Public Health was a move to joint commissioning with Reading and Wokingham Councils, in liaison with the appropriate Clinical Commissioning Groups, with the aims of achieving economies of scale and best value.

Councillor Jones gave thanks to the Public Health Team for their work in developing this joint commissioning approach.

Returning specifically to this report (Agenda Item 5), Councillor Jones explained that it was necessary for West Berkshire to tender a one year contract from 1 April 2020. This would allow for commissioning timescales to be aligned with Wokingham and Reading Councils, and for the procurement of a joint contract from 1 April 2021. This would also align with the emerging Integrated Care Partnership.

The proposals outlined in the report were supported by officers in Legal and Procurement who advised against an extension of the current contract.

Councillor Graham Bridgman commended the use of the joint commissioning approach across the healthcare system. This should be the approach wherever possible.

Councillor Alan Macro referred to the point made in paragraph 5.4 of the report which stated that the results of the evaluation process would be finalised by the end of October 2019. He queried whether this process had been finalised. Councillor Jones confirmed that it had and therefore the report’s proposals were recommended for approval.

Councillor Macro felt that it would have been preferable to clarify this point within the report.

(Councillor Steve Masters joined the meeting at 5.07pm).

RESOLVED that authority be delegated to the Head of Public Health & Wellbeing, in consultation with the Executive Director of Resources and the Portfolio Holder for Public Health & Community Wellbeing, to award the contract to the successful bidder, following the evaluation process, for the provision of 0-19 (up to 25 years for young people with special educational needs and disabilities) Public Health Nursing Services from 1st April 2020. This procurement had been carried out to align commissioning timescales for a joint contract with Wokingham Borough Council and Reading Borough Council from 1st April 2021 and align with the emerging Integrated Care Partnership.

Other options considered:

·         Commission a joint contract from 2020. This would not be possible due to Reading and Wokingham’s commissioning timescales.

·         Extend the current contract. This was explored but the legal risk of challenge was deemed too high as there was no further  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

56.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Contract Award (EX3817) pdf icon PDF 99 KB

CSP: PC1 and PC2

Purpose: To inform Members of the tender process for sexual and reproductive health services in Berkshire West and to request approval to award the contract. The joint procurement of this service is conducted by the Berkshire Public Health Shared Service on behalf of West Berkshire, Reading and Wokingham Councils.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved that authority be delegated to the Head of Public Health & Wellbeing, in consultation with the Executive Director of Resources and the Portfolio Holder for Public Health & Community Wellbeing, to award the contract for the provision of an integrated sexual and reproductive health service to the winning Provider following the evaluation process from 1st April 2020 aligning with the emerging Integrated Care Partnership. The contract will be 10 years in length.

 

This decision is not subject to call in as:

 

·      a delay in implementing the decision could cause the Council serious financial implications or could compromise the Council's position.

 

therefore it will be implemented immediately.

Minutes:

The Executive considered the report (Agenda Item 6) which sought to inform Members of the outcome of the tender process for sexual and reproductive health services in Berkshire West, and which sought approval to award the contract. The joint procurement of this service was conducted by the Berkshire Public Health Shared Service on behalf of West Berkshire, Reading and Wokingham Councils.

Councillor Rick Jones explained that the current contract would expire in March 2020. As already outlined, this joint procurement with Reading and Wokingham Councils would secure greater cost efficiencies as well as aiming for an improved service. He commended the report to the Executive.

Councillor Alan Macro had two points of clarity on the supporting information. He firstly requested clarification on the duration of the contract and the potential for it to be extended. Councillor Jones advised that it was a three year contract with the potential to extend it to five years (subject to a satisfactory review in the third year).

Secondly, Councillor Macro questioned if paragraph 1.3 was correct in stating that the new service would incorporate additional sexual health services including online chlamydia and HIV testing. He queried the online reference for what were personal tests. As Councillor Jones was only able to provide a written response to this query, Councillor Richard Somner was able to clarify that the online aspect was to confirm whether or not the potential patient was eligible to receive a test and, if so, obtain their information online. A test kit would then be sent out to the patient if necessary. He clarified that the test itself could not be undertaken online. This approach was to help manage patient footfall in and out of hospitals.

RESOLVED that authority be delegated to the Head of Public Health & Wellbeing, in consultation with the Executive Director of Resources and the Portfolio Holder for Public Health & Community Wellbeing, to award the contract for the provision of an integrated sexual and reproductive health service to the winning provider, following the evaluation process, from 1st April 2020 aligning with the emerging Integrated Care Partnership. The contract would be ten years in length.

Other options considered:

·         Tender for a West Berkshire only sexual health service. This decision was not taken due to disadvantages in relation to the value and attractiveness to providers of a smaller contract. Costs would be higher for a West Berkshire only service due to duplication of senior management, clinical costs and facilities across Berkshire West.

·         Doing nothing is not an option as this is a mandated service.

57.

Exclusion of Press and Public

RECOMMENDATION: That members of the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items as it is likely that there would be disclosure of exempt information of the description contained in the paragraphs of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 specified in brackets in the heading of each item. Rule 8.10.4 of the Constitution refers.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that members of the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the under-mentioned item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as contained in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information)(Variation) Order 2006. Rule 8.10.4 of the Constitution also refers.

58.

1A Bath Road Asset Proposal (EX3589)

(Paragraph 3 – information relating to financial/business affairs of particular person)

CSP: GP1

Purpose:  To seek approval to the disposal of the freehold of 1A Bath Road, Calcot.

Decision:

Resolved that the recommendations in the exempt report be approved.

 

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 28 November 2019, then it will be implemented.

Minutes:

(Paragraph 3 – information relating to financial/business affairs of a particular person)

The Executive considered an exempt report (Agenda Item 8) which sought approval for the disposal of the freehold of 1A Bath Road, Calcot.

RESOLVED that the recommendations in the exempt report be agreed.

Other options considered: as outlined in the exempt report.