Decision details

Cabinet considered the report and RESOLVED to:

1.    Approve the extensionof £3,656,914 funding for Peterborough City College to continue delivering Day Opportunities and Supported Employment Services in Peterborough from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2025.

The reason for the recommendation is to ensure the continuity of an effective service for 106 people with eligible needs and a further 43 accessing services without eligible care and support. It will also enable the opportunity to further develop the Employment Support Offer having clear performance indicators to increase the number of people with a learning disability and/or autism to gain paid employment(ASCOF measure 1E). 

The reason that a 2-year extension is requested, is to enable enough time to complete more in-depth financial modelling, to begin in April 2023, to determine value for money as the budget was transferred over in 2016 and has not been reviewed since. By continuing to provide the day opps through the City College, it is advised that monitoring data is continuously collected so that a soft market test and benchmarkingis carried out to ensure best value is being achieved. This could lead to commissioners needing to plan and develop the market for potential competition and a shorter extension period would not be sufficient to complete this, and any subsequent procurement activity. 

·         Do nothing i.e., not continue to fund Peterborough City College Day Opportunities and Employment Support services. This option is not a desirable or viable option, as it will not meet our strategic aims and will leave vulnerable people without a service. Whilst Day Opportunities are not statutory this would likely have a knock-on effect on other areas with people needing additional services from alternative provision e.g., homecare or accommodation. 

·         Procure the service to the external market. This option is not a viable option, going to the market would leave a service delivery gap. 

None.

None.