Issue - meetings

(An item to be considered by the Cabinet in accordance with the Cabinet Procedure Rules and Regulation 5 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, no representations having been received to such consideration taking place under Regulation 5(5) thereof)

Report of the Director of Integrated Adult Social Care (IASC/24/11) on the Contract Award for Joint Community Equipment Services, attached.

An Impact Assessment has been prepared for the attention of Members at the meeting and is also available on the website at - Published Impact Assessments - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk)

RESOLVED that the award of a 7-year contract, as outlined in the recommendation of the Report, for the provision of a joint Health and Social Care Community Equipment Service, following the completion of a competitive tendering exercise, be approved.

(An item taken under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 during which the press and public were excluded, no representations having been received to such consideration under Regulation 5(5) of the  Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012).

(Councillor Bullivant declared a personal interest in this matter by virtue of being a Trustee of an organisation who have delivered these services, noting there had been no involvement in the tender process, but withdrew from the meeting during its consideration).

(Councillor Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Integrated Adult Social Care (IASC/24/11) on the Contract Award for Joint Community Equipment Services, circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Report outlined that approximately 90,000 people in Devon were currently benefiting from community equipment. Devon’s Community Equipment Service delivered, installed and maintained equipment that people needed in order to live safely in their homes, such as hoists, slings, hospital beds, walking aids, and telecare systems. The Council last approved a contract for these services in 2016.

The tender for the new contract had been launched in April 2024 under the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR  2015) and closed in June 2024. A full options appraisal preceded the recommissioning exercise, to assure consensus on the key decisions and this was outlined in full at section 4 of the Report.

An Impact Assessment had been prepared for the attention of Members at the meeting and was available on the website at - Published Impact Assessments - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk). This highlighted that the new contract had been shaped around the health and care system strategic aims of supporting more people with more complex conditions to live as independently as possible in their own homes. This should positively impact on people where income, housing, isolation and access to services and transport were issues.

In summary, Devon’s Joint Community Equipment service would deliver multiple benefits to both staff and the people in need of support from the health and care system. The service promoted independence and improved quality of life, by supporting more people to live at home for longer with more complex conditions.  It helped prevent the need for hospital admissions and supported people to leave hospital as soon as possible so that they could recover at home. 

The service also diverted people from having to move into residential and nursing homes, by making it possible for personal carers and unpaid carers to safely deliver care to people in their own homes.

The matter having been debated and the options and/or alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability, carbon impact, risk management, equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact) set out in the Directors Report and/or referred to above having been considered:

it was MOVED by Councillor McInnes, SECONDED by Councillor Gilbert,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 629