Decision Maker: Cabinet Member - Finance and Corporate Resources
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: No
The purpose of the report is to seek approval
for an exemption of contract procedure rules to enable a separate
decision to extend provision of external enforcement services for
12 months from October 2021.
The request is made under the Council’s Constitution -
Contract Procedure Rule 21.3 (j) – where an exemption for a
particular period can be justified. The reason is due to the
Government’s Covid-19 legal restrictions which prevented
enforcement activity for much of the period of the pandemic and the
wider impact this had on the ability to collect debts. The Council
also wishes to extend the contract temporarily to enable a wider
review of the effectiveness of the in -house and external use of
enforcement agents to determine an optimum model which would be
reflected in any future open competition for these services.
RESOLVED - That:
Option 1 -. To approve an exemption under the Council’s
Constitution - Contract Procedure Rule 21.3 (j) – where an
exemption for a particular period can be justified. The request is
made under the Council’s Constitution - Contract Procedure
Rule 21.3 (j) – where an exemption for a particular period
can be justified. The reason is due to the Government’s
Covid-19 legal restrictions which prevented enforcement activity
for much of the period of the pandemic and the wider impact this
had on the ability to collect debts. The Council also wishes to
extend the contract temporarily to enable a wider review of the
effectiveness of the in -house and external use of enforcement
agents to determine an optimum model which would be reflected in
any future open competition for these services.
Option 1 - Option 1 -. To approve an exemption
under the Council’s Constitution - Contract Procedure Rule
21.3 (j) – where an exemption for a particular period can be
justified. The request is made under the Council’s
Constitution - Contract Procedure Rule 21.3 (j) – where an
exemption for a particular period can be justified. The reason is
due to the Government’s Covid-19 legal restrictions which
prevented enforcement activity for much of the period of the
pandemic and the wider impact this had on the ability to collect
debts. The Council also wishes to extend the contract temporarily
to enable a wider review of the effectiveness of the in -house and
external use of enforcement agents to determine an optimum model
which would be reflected in any future open competition for these
services.
Option 2 - Not to provide for an exemption to the Council’s
Contract Procedure Rules to enable an extension to the contract
which would leave the Council with no contracted external supplier
to deliver the service. Having no formal contract in place would
increase risk for the Council and negatively impact on Council Tax
and Business Rates collection.
Option 2 - Not to provide for an exemption to
the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules to enable an extension
to the contract which would leave the Council with no contracted
external supplier to deliver the service. Having no formal contract
in place would increase risk for the Council and negatively impact
on Council Tax and Business Rates collection.
Other reasons / organisations consulted
n/a
Contact: Caroline Lee, Head of Revenues, Benefits and Business Support Email: Caroline.Lee@Oldham.gov.uk Email: caroline.lee'oldham.gov.uk@oldham.gov.uk.
Publication date: 06/04/2022
Date of decision: 15/10/2021
Accompanying Documents: