Decision details

In the budget approved by Full Council in March ’22 the establishment of a Budget Risk Reserve was agreed to fund the cost of transformational investment and the implementation of the Improvement Plan. This decision relates to the award of contract against this agreed reserve.

The Cabinet Member agreed to:

Approve further contracts to CIPFA of up to £500k to provide expertise and delivery capacity to support the implementation of the Council’s Improvement Plan, to allow it to achieve financial sustainability. This will bring the total contracted value with CIPFA of up to £1m. Reliance on CIPFA is now reducing as the Council moves towards financial sustainability. Each brief for CIPFA is formally agreed by the Corporate Leadership Team and regular updates are given to FSWG and the improvement board on delivery.

REASON FOR DECISION:

The Council’s contract rules require any contract in excess of £500k to be approved by the appropriate Cabinet Member. The original contract awarded to CIPFA was below this threshold, however any further contract awards to CIPFA will take their total contract value for this project to over £500k

Doing nothing cannot be considered. The minister has been very clear that the Council must get to a sustainable budget by the 2023/24 financial year and if progress is not made there will be the possibility of intervention. Undertaking a full procurement exercise is not an option as the Council must maintain the work already underway and continue to act at pace as per the DLUHC reports. Alternative providers would require considerable familiarisation with the CIPFA work to date which would be reflected in charges and delays.

None.

Peterborough City Council Improvement Plan 2021-2024