Decision details

1. As part of Public Health’s £200,000 recurrent winter wellbeing fund (i.e. Cold Weather Plan funding), £100,000 has been allocated to provide heating repairs and improvements along with small scale energy efficiency measures and (face to face) advice to vulnerable households, in order to improve health and wellbeing and reduce cold related ill-health and fuel poverty.

2. This funding has previously (2013/14 and 2014/15) been awarded through short-term contracts with local third sector organisations (Care & Repair and Groundwork) with a track record of effective service delivery in Leeds.

3. A Market Sounding Exercise was undertaken during September/ October 2014, to assess the capability and experience of providers which showed interest to provide the service we intend to commission. The exercise indicated that even though the market is limited it has demonstrated that a procurement exercise can be undertaken.

4. To ensure that we are obtaining best value and quality for Leeds, it was decided to undertake a full procurement of the service for a three year contract, commencing 1st October 2015, with an option to extend for a further 2 x 12 months, subject to available funding.

5. In order to reduce fragmentation, and increase quality, co-ordination and scale of assistance offered to vulnerable householders across Leeds, a joint commissioning approach with Leeds CCGs was agreed. South & East CCG confirmed it will contribute £80,000 per contractual year and North CCG will contribute £50,000 for Year 1 only.

6. The two CCGs agreed for these allocations to be administered and performance managed by Leeds City Council, which will be specified in Section 256 agreements, instead of CCGs grant-funding similar work independently which is what happened over the previous two years.