Issue - decisions

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:  

1.         Approve the implementation of the Dynamic Purchasing System for Alternative Provision to enable services within Education to effectively manage their significant procurement activity over the next 7 years commencing in 2024, ensuring that children and young people are able to receive appropriate education to meet their needs.

2.         Note the existing delegated authority to officers to approve Education placements at relevant establishments, under any new Dynamic Purchasing System.

3.         Instruct officers to provide regular monitoring of such expenditure to the Cabinet Member in pursuit of the Council’s objectives.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet received a report to agree a new procurement approach to securing alternative education provision for those children outside a mainstream or specialist school setting for children.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education explained that this would be a flexible procurement approach, enabling a competitive environment and pool of providers to ensure best value in alternative education provision. It was noted that this would be for a small proportion of children in the Borough that require such specialist education outside a mainstream setting, and importantly would enable them to progress in their learning and into a settled adulthood.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have continued with the current process commissioning from the market, or a 'closed framework' but considered these to not provide the compliance required or less flexible in approach.