Decision details

To terminate the existing Gloucestershire county-wide contract with Safe Partnership limited (which has a contract value of £40,000/year from 1 August 021 to 31 July 2024) and to enter into a new contract with Safe Partnership Limited on exactly the same terms, but with an increase contract value of £100,000/year to 31 July 2024.

Background

Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) jointly contract Safe Partnership Limited to provide a range of security measures in peoples’ homes for households who have experienced, or are at risk of experiencing, domestic abuse. The aim of this service is to prevent homelessness and to keep victims, and their children, safe in their homes.

The security options that can be provided range from ‘target hardening’ measures (i.e. the installation of various security devices, which can be fitted readily to buildings without major adaption) to more extensive works, known as ‘sanctuary’ provision. This sanctuary provision can involve installing much more extensive security measures, such as the creation of a ‘sanctuary room’, which is a safe place where victims can call and await the arrival of the police.

The current contract began on 1^st August 2021 and was procured via the Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Services Framework 2018-23. It is a county wide service between CBC, Cotswold District Council, Forest of Dean District Council, Gloucester City Council, Stroud District Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council, Gloucestershire County Council (on behalf of Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service) and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. It is intended that once the existing contract has been terminated, a new contract will be entered into with the same provider (given that this is the only provider within the Domestic Abuse Support Services Framework that falls with this specialist Lot).

Reason for Decision

Since the contract was originally entered into with Safe Partnership Limited, both the cost of materials and the level of demand for the service has increased, with the result that the projected overall costs across the county for year 2 of the contract (i.e. to 31^st July 2023) are estimated to be around £65,000. The decision to increase the value of the contract to £100,000/year will ensure that costs in respect of this contract remain within the contract price to the end of the contract period (31^st July 2024). 

Cheltenham Borough Homes’s Housing Options Service make referrals into this Target Hardening and Sanctuary Service on CBC’s behalf in order to help prevent homelessness. This is a ‘pay as you go service’ and costs to date have been £5,440 for year 1 and are projected to be approximately £10,000 for year 2. It is anticipated costs for year 3 will be within the range of £10,000 to £15,000. All costs will continue to be met from CBC’s Homelessness Prevention Grant funding.

No viable alternative options available.

As above.

None – procurement was carried out through Gloucestershire Joint Commissioning Framework for Domestic Abuse – Lot 2 Places of Safety