Decision details

Cabinet received a report which sought approval for the Authority to undertake a procurement exercise in order to appoint a preferred provider to install and maintain stairlifts, through floor lifts, step lifts and ceiling track hoists in domestic properties. 

The Care Act 2014 set out a range of duties and responsibilities on the Authority in relation to this matter and defined ‘eligibility criteria’ for care and support.  Section 13 of the Act included a duty for the Authority to determine whether an individual’s needs met the eligibility criteria under the Act.  Once the Authority had determined that they did, Section 18 of the Act imposes an obligation on the Authority to meet that individual’s needs for care and support.

In order to contribute towards the fulfilment of its duty, the Authority had a contract with an external contractor for the installation and maintenance of stairlifts, through floor lifts, step lifts and ceiling tract hoists in domestic properties.  This contract had been awarded on 1 April 2016 and expired on 31 March 2020.

The contract was not tenure specific meaning that it covered installations for Council housing tenants and, through the Disabled Facilities Grant process, included non-Council tenants and owner occupiers. 

The Authority maximised resources where it could by removing and re-cycling installations when they were no longer required. All of the installations were serviced in accordance with statutory requirements and breakdowns were responded to in accordance with agreed timescales.

Cabinet considered the following decision options: to accept the recommendations set out in paragraph 1.2 of the report, or alternatively, to not approve the recommendations.

Resolved that the Head of Health, Education, Care and Safeguarding, in consultation with the Head of Law and Governance, the Head of Resources and the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care be authorised, to:

(1)          undertake a procurement exercise compliant with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 in order to identify a preferred provider for the installation and maintenance of stairlifts, through floor lifts, step lifts and ceiling track hoists in domestic properties; and

(2)       award a contract for the installation and maintenance of stairlifts, through floor lifts, step lifts and ceiling track hoists in domestic properties for a period of three years, commencing April 2020 with an option to extend for one year, on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender.

(Reasons for decision: The Authority has a statutory obligation to meet the care and support needs to those individuals within the Borough that meet the various eligibility criteria as defined by the Care Act 2014.  The procurement exercise and ultimate contract award aims to ensure continuity of service provision so to enable the Authority to award a contract for the provision of this service when the current contract comes to an end on 31 March 2020. This will ensure continuity of statutory provision and is the best way of achieving best value for money for the Authority.)