Decision details

       i.         Bracknell Forest Council continue membership of the S75 Joint Agreement for a maximum period of five years. Following this period continued membership of the S75 will be reviewed and presented to the Executive for consideration and recommendation.

     ii.         Bracknell Forest Council to continue to participate as a partner in the Berkshire Community Equipment Service Steering Group in order to develop and agree a route to market for the re-commissioning of the BCES, and to be part of the joint procurement exercise for community equipment services as led by West Berkshire Council.

    iii.         authority be delegated to the Executive Director: People in liaison with The Executive Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing and the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning to consider and then approve the route to market noting that once approval has been given by the Executive to the recommendations in this report, then the joint procurement will proceed as led by West Berkshire Council.

    iv.         The approval will be subject to review by Bracknell Forest Council procurement and legal teams to ensure compliance to Procurement Regulations 2015 and for this condition to be made clear in communications with West Berkshire Council. This caveat is required because West Berkshire have yet to provide details of the planned procurement process.

     v.         the recommendations from this report to be shared with the lead authority, West Berkshire Council, so they are fully informed as to the limits of the authority obtained for this procurement

1.     Continuing with the BCES S75 Joint Agreement will provide the best value in

securing sufficiency of supply of community equipment in the area for children young people and adults resident in BFC.

2.     The current BCES contract comes to an end on 31st March 2024 and there are no further options for extension.

3.     BFC are required to remain in the S75 Joint Agreement in order to progress the recommissioning of the service as a Berkshire Wide contract.

In order for the Executive to be assured that the best value and outcomes approach

is pursued on behalf of our residents, alternative routes to market were considered and detailed within the report.

None