Issue - meetings

(i)        to approve the Social Care Procurement Business Cases which set out the known commissioning requirements from now until March 2020;

(ii)       to make the Direction, as attached at Appendix F to the report, and to instruct the Chief Officer to issue the Direction to Aberdeen City Council;

(iii)      to approve the award of 3 year grant funding to the organisation detailed in section 3.6 of the report and make the Direction detailed at Appendix G, and instruct the Chief Officer to issue the Direction to Aberdeen City Council; and

(iv)      to approve a further one year award to the organisation detailed in section 3.7 of the report and make the Direction detailed at Appendix H, and instruct the Chief Officer to issue the Direction to Aberdeen City Council.

The Board had before it a report by Alison MacLeod, Lead Strategy and Performance Manager, which provided information in respect of commissioning for social care and support services; sought approval for the related procurement activity to be undertaken in line with Aberdeen City Council’s Financial Regulations; and sought approval in relation to Following the Public Pound grant awards.

Thereafter, Members enquired if there was to be exploration of opportunities for a co-production approach with partners prior to any tender advertisement.  Officers were looking at more collaborative models for delivery, and a range of procurement routes were used.  Ms MacLeod advised that service reviews were about to commence, and if any commissioning decisions were required as part of that process, a report would be brought forward in March 2019.

During the discussion on the commissioning of services, there was comment made in respect of ensuring that organisations were committed to the principles of the Ethical Care Charter.  It was noted that assurance around this would be expected for commissioned services and would be monitored, likely through the Audit and Performance Systems Committee.

As a result of this discussion, the Vice Chairperson declared an interest by virtue of her role as a paid official of UNISON but did not consider that the nature of her interest required her to leave the meeting during consideration of the item.

The report recommended:-

that the Board –

(a)      to approve the Social Care Procurement Business Cases which set out the known commissioning requirements from now until March 2020;

(b)      to make the Direction, as attached at Appendix F to the report, and to instruct the Chief Officer to issue the Direction to Aberdeen City Council;

(c)       to approve the award of 3 year grant funding to the organisation detailed in section 3.6 of the report and make the Direction detailed at Appendix G, and instruct the Chief Officer to issue the Direction to Aberdeen City Council; and

(d)      to approve a further one year award to the organisation detailed in section 3.7 of the report and make the Direction detailed at Appendix H, and instruct the Chief Officer to issue the Direction to Aberdeen City Council.

The Board resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.