Purpose

To vary the existing Temporary
Accommodation contract (TA contract) with Spring to incorporate the
management of the following 4 properties:
 
11 Clover Close, Stratford upon
Avon, CV37 0TB
25 Chepstow Close, Stratford
upon Avon, CV37 9JF
Flat 7, Jolyffe Court, Clopton
Road, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6SW
129 Seymour Road, Alcester, B49
6EF
 
 
The contract began on 28th
November 2024 for an initial term of three years with the option
for SDC to extend for two one year periods up to a five year
maximum (up to 1 December 2029). This variation to the TA contract
will sit alongside the decision to lease these 4 units to Spring
and will align with the existing temporary accommodation
arrangements and streamline service delivery.
 
The current services contract
for the Next Steps Accommodation Programme (NSAP) is due to expire
on 18 July 2025. The contract was to provide management of four SDC
owned housing units and intensive housing support to facilitate the
resettlement of rough sleepers. 
 
In addition to the management
of the units as Temporary Accommodation, intensive housing support
will be taken over by a third party supplier, P3, under an existing
contract. No variation is required to this contract as referrals
for support are at SDC’s discretion and not additional to
contracted services.

Content

To vary the TA contract by
adding the 4 new units to the existing TA contract. The variation
would commence on 19 July 2025.
 

Reasons for the decision

The NSAP support services
contract will come to an end on 18 July 2025. SDC still requires
housing management services for these units and is satisfied with
the performance of Spring under the TA contract. As such, it is
proposed that the units be added to the existing TA
contract. 
 
The TA contract specifically
provides for the addition of new or replacement properties at the
Council’s discretion. Legal advice confirmed that variation
of the TA contract to add the new properties would not breach the
SDC’s obligations under procurement law.
 
Adding the units to the
temporary accommodation contract will allow the service provider to
continue with the housing management function for these four units,
avoid the need for a new procurement process and provide one
seamless point of contact for management of SDC’s temporary
accommodation.
 

Alternative options considered

A new procurement was
considered but was rejected because of shortness of time and the
strong possibility that based on the result of the procurement
process for the TA contract, Spring would be the only
bidder.
The only other option would be
to bring the service in house but currently SDC does not have the
capacity to do this.