Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: March 4, 2025

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED: Cabinet; a)              Approved the commencement of a competitive tender exercise for the provision of Integrated Alcohol and Drug Treatment, Recovery and Support Services for a period of 5 years with the option to extend for up to a further five years, for a maximum contract length of 10 years b)              Delegated authority to the Director of Public Health in consultation with the Executive Director of Finance and Lead Member to award the contract for the provision of this service to the successful bidder.   REASONS RESOLVED: 1.     Under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, West Northamptonshire Council as a legal responsibility to reduce health inequalities and enhance the health and wellbeing of its residents. This includes the commissioning of services for the treatment and prevention of alcohol and drug use. 2.     Alcohol and drug use remains a significant issue at both local and national levels, with deaths due to alcohol increasing over threefold since 2015 and drug deaths doubling in this same time in West Northamptonshire. 3.     The negative impact of alcohol and drug use on individuals, families, and communities across West Northamptonshire is wide ranging and goes beyond health impacts to impacts on crime, safety, the economy. By commissioning these services, the Council will directly address these challenges and work towards reducing harm relating to alcohol and drug use. 4.     Commissioning alcohol and drug use services as recommended supports the Council’s goal of improving public health outcomes, addressing its priorities to improve the life chances of all residents, improve our towns and villages and provide residents with value for money. It also supports delivery of West Northamptonshire Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy’s objectives.   ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:   ·       Option 1. Do Nothing: Continuing without re-commissioning the service would result in a service gap from April 2026, which could adversely affect service users, and the council would be in breach of its statutory responsibilities.   ·       Option 2. Re-commission the services through the current service model: Though the existing providers have worked hard to collaborate, integration of services relies on the providers cooperating and developing good working relationships outside of contractual obligations. This opens the Council and its residents to significant risk of receiving disjointed services in the event of a breakdown in these relationships. Separate contracts and KPIs tend to create conditions for adversarial relationships between services.   ·       (Preferred) Option 3. Commission an integrated service This option provides benefits in terms of offering residents a seamless integrated offer and provides efficiencies of scale as well as greater staffing resilience and less risk to business continuity in face of disruption.