Decision details

It is proposed and recommended that the Director of Resources approves the SSA arrangement to continue on a year on year rolling basis for up to five years (1 August 2021- 31 July 2026). The SLA’s contained within the SSA agreement provide options for reviews and break clauses should these be required.

Background:

The Director of Resources approved the extension of the Support Service Agreement (containing all the different SLA’s) in 2020, which expires on 31 July 2021.  As part of the SSA, the Council  provides a range of services to Aspire which support the organisation and help it delivery a range of services to their clients (as per the contract approved by the Director of Adults and Health, see below).

In return Aspire pay the Council for each service provided, these include: Transport (the provision of Council buses and drivers, use of our ICT systems/IT support/ Information Knowledge/HR services (Health and Safety/HELP/Occupational Health)/Convenor(union)/OD/Finance  (support for payments and billing), the use of Council Premises, BSC support (payment of salaries/pensions support etc).

The Director of Adults and Health recently approved a variation to the contract awarded to Aspire for a further 12 + 12 month period through the modification of the contract during their term under Regulation 72 (1b) (i) & (ii) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015, commencing 1st August 2021 costing £20,508,000 per annum.

The Director of Resources has approved the renewal of the Service Support Agreement with Aspire for the initial period and up to a further four (4) years (five years in total) on a year by year rolling basis commencing on 1st August 2021 at c£1,919,655 per annum.

The SSA is being agreed in conjunction with Aspire and Council Directorates who provide services through the various Service Level Agreements (SLAs) contained within the SSA.

Aspire senior management team, Council Officers in respect to each of their SLA.