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RESOLVED: Cabinet
approved;
a)   
The commencement of the procurement process and
delegated authority to the Head of Private Sector Housing, in
consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, Culture &
Leisure; Procurement Governance Group and Chief Financial Officer
(s151) to manage the process throughout its lifespan, including
procuring, awarding, maintaining and cooling off (if needed) the
DPS.
b)   
The introduction of a new Dynamic Purchasing System
(DPS) for the booking of nightly purchased temporary accommodation
for homeless households from the 1st June
2024
c)   
That the duration of the DPS be for an initial
5-year period beginning from the notified contract award
commencement date and with the option to extend on an annual basis
whist the DPS remains fit for purpose and depending upon the
Council’s ongoing need for this type of temporary
accommodation.
 
REASONS RESOLVED:

Enabled West
Northamptonshire Council to meet its statutory requirements in
providing households in priority need with temporary accommodation
as set out in the Housing Act 1996
Ensured that the
provision of temporary accommodation is both cost-effective and
legally compliant. Moreso than the alternative of using expensive
bed and breakfast/hotel booking

 
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:
Option two (Not recommended) – not
procuring a new DPS
 

The current DPS
contract will expire on 1st June 2024. Should this
occur, the Council would seek to secure an alternate supply of
temporary accommodation, most likely utilising various Bed and
Breakfast accommodation.
While these options can be used to secure
accommodation, this approach can increase susceptibility to
variable pricing and is not the most effective way of managing cost
and supply
Furthermore, the likelihood of being able to
decant the high volume of households currently in nightly-purchased
temporary accommodation procured via the DPS into Bed and Breakfast
and Hotels would be very low, if not impossible. The Council would
also be at the mercy of Bed and Breakfast and Hotel’s
availability and pricing; most likely meaning this would not be a
long-term solution, and households could face the upheaval of
having to move multiple times.
WNC could find itself unable to provide suitable
accommodation for homeless households, meaning it cannot fulfil its
statutory duties.