Search decisions

The purpose of this report is to approve the usage of the Rough Sleeping Initiative Emergency Accommodation Allocation and seek approval to extend the current fixed term contract of the Move on Support Officer (MOSO) until 31st March 2022.

RESOLVED - That:
Extend the NSAP Move-On Support Officer post to March 2022 and utilise the remaining Rough Sleeping Initiative Emergency Accommodation Allocation monies for ongoing accommodation provision

The purpose of this report is to seek approval to purchase the leasehold interest of a unit within the Spindles and Town Square Shopping Centre to avoid it going to auction.

RESOLVED - To approve the submission of an expression of interest to purchase of the leasehold interest outside of a public auction process.

Allocation of MHCLG Community Champions Programme Grant

RESOLVED - That: To allocate the Government grant funding to provide support to residents most at risk from Covid19 through a community engagement approach according to proposals brought forward and endorsed by the Community Champions Steering Group

The purpose of the report is to seek approval for awarding the 12-month extension option within the contract between Oldham Council and Furniture Resource Centre for the supply of white goods and new and pre-loved furniture provided to eligible residents under the Local Welfare Provision Scheme.

RESOLVED - That:To award the optional 1-year extension to Furniture Resource Centre who have provided a high-quality service and have shown a real commitment to the Oldham Community particularly through the current pandemic.

Under Regulation 34 and 35 of The Town and Country (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 local planning authorities must make monitoring information available for inspection as soon as possible after the information becomes available. The Monitoring Report covers the previous financial year that is 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020. In terms of housing land supply, the Monitoring Report also presents the position as at 1 April 2020. Oldham’s Monitoring Report is attached as Appendix 1.
In line with the Regulations the Monitoring Report provides details on whether the council is meeting the milestones set out in the Local Development Scheme (LDS) for preparing the various Local Plan documents. Performance is monitored against the LDS that was in place at the start of the monitoring period. The Monitoring Report also monitors a range of planning indicators, such as housing, employment and biodiversity, which seek to assess the effectiveness of the council’s land-use planning policies, and whether they are achieving their objectives and delivering sustainable development. This is our 16th Monitoring Report.

RESOLVED - That: The AMR be submitted to MHCLG.

The purpose of the report is to request Cabinet Member approval to allocate the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) £974,689 Winter Grant funding for Oldham to offer support to residents with food, fuel and other essential costs during the winter. The report sets out the proposed allocation of funding. Most of the recipients of the funding will be families with children

RESOLVED - That: the DWP Winter Grant resources are used to fund:
•a supermarket food voucher programme for families with children who are entitled to Free School Meals and to widen this support to families on low incomes with pre-school children and to care leavers over the Christmas 2020 and February 2021 half term holidays
•additional support for the Warm Homes programme to augment the provision of fuel vouchers to residents with pre-payment meters and support with boiler repairs
•support for other vulnerable residents with supermarket food vouchers over winter ( to be determined in January 2021.

Under Covid-19 the volume of high risk domestic abuse referrals has increased significantly, and the team is struggling to offer timely support to victims of abuse. This creates a risk that high risk victims may not receive the support they need in leaving an abusive relationship, and consequently remain at continuing risk of serious harm.
The purpose of the report is to create a second additional temporary Grade 7 Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA) post for a period of 6 months, to be filled through an agency worker.

RESOLVED - That: the additional temporary capacity be created by creating a second additional temporary Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA) post for a period of 6 months, to be filled through an agency worker.

The TTaS programme aims to offer twice weekly testing to people who cannot work from home and do not have symptoms of coronavirus.
Much of the current delivery model was able to mobilise at pace as the Council drew upon exemptions to procurement rules. To deliver at scale there were no alternatives to the current providers and current operating model.
To continue offering targeted testing at pace to workforces and business settings, Oldham needs outreach testing provision. In addition, training to support settings intending to establish themselves as a test site is to be provided, or support staff eligible for home testing.
Oldham Council has worked to commission a provider for the provision of Targeted Testing at Scale (TTaS) longer term provision – Outreach Testing and Training through an open competitive tendering procedure.
It was agreed on 16th February 2021 for the Chief Executive to use emergency powers in consultation with Councillor Fielding, Leader of the Council and Councillor Shah portfolio holder for COVID-19, to award the contract following completion of the tender evaluation processes, on behalf of the Council.
The recommendation is to award the contract for the Targeted Testing at Scale (TTaS) longer term provision – Outreach Testing and Training to BARDOC. Once approval is acquired, the final due diligence checks will be carried out and the contract awarded, subject to satisfactory outcomes of the checks.
The contract term is for a period of one year up to the end of 31 March 2022 with a value of £14 payable for each test completed in line with the requirements of the specification. Results uploaded to the national portal will be payable at this unit price regardless of positive, negative or void outcome. There is an option to extend the contract for up to a further one year.
The recommendation is subject to successful completion of a 5-day standstill period.

RESOLVED -
To award the contract for the provision of Oldham’s Targeted Testing at Scale (TTaS) longer term provision – Outreach Testing and Training as part of Oldham’s strategy to contain, manage and ultimately defeat Coronavirus. A change to the existing model is required to maximise cost effectiveness and ensure the service does not create a financial deficit for the Council.

The TTaS programme aims to offer twice weekly testing to people who cannot work from home and do not have symptoms of coronavirus.
Much of the current delivery model was able to mobilise at pace as the Council drew upon exemptions to procurement rules. To deliver at scale there were no alternatives to the current providers and current operating model.
To continue offering targeted testing at pace under a new model under a clinic based multi-site delivery model (for example a pharmacy-led) where there are no direct site costs, no direct staffing costs, no direct clinical waste costs, no additional clinical governance to be commissioned nor additional clinical insurance requirements to the LA.
Oldham Council has worked to commission a framework for a clinic based multi-site delivery model (for example a pharmacy-led) has been tendered under the Pseudo Dynamic Purchasing System whereby individual entities bid to deliver the testing service. The Pseudo DPS allows suppliers who have previously completed a tender and failed to gain entry onto the DPS, they have an opportunity to complete a tender again at any time. Throughout the duration of the DPS, any supplier can complete and submit a tender to be admitted onto the system as long as they can meet the mandatory requirements and minimum quality standards laid out in the Tender documents.
It was agreed on 16th February 2021 for the Chief Executive to use emergency powers in consultation with Councillor Fielding, Leader of the Council and Councillor Shah portfolio holder for COVID-19, to award the contract following completion of the tender evaluation processes, on behalf of the Council.
The recommendation is to admit the providers that met criteria.The contract term is for a period of one year up to the end of 31 March 2022.

RESOLVED - That:
To award contracts for the provision of Oldham’s Targeted Testing at Scale longer term provision – Pseudo Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) as part of Oldham’s strategy to contain, manage and ultimately defeat Coronavirus. A change to the existing model is required to maximise cost effectiveness and ensure the service does not create a financial deficit for the Council.

The report seeks approval for a restructure of the Family Connect Service as set out in the staff consultation report and amended following consultation with staff and trade unions.
As part of the wider development of place based working, and in order to support delivery of better outcomes for children and families, the proposed restructure reorganises the service around five district teams, together with a Development and Domestic Abuse team, and the inclusion of early help staff in an integrated children’s services team in the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub. The proposals are a first phase in developing an integrated, multi-agency early help offer.

RESOLVED - That: the restructure be approved in order to deliver service improvement together with an agreed budget saving.

The purpose of the report is to gain approval to allocate financial resource to a number of areas to deliver Targeted Testing at Scale (TTaS) post the 6-week surge period which was then extended through to the end of 31 March 2021. A new model has already sought and gained approval for delivery commencing 1st April 2021 and is currently published on CHEST NW portal as 2 tender opportunities.
From the 18th January 2021 to the end of February 2021 rapid antigen lateral flow tests have been undertaken. These were undertaken either at one of the ATS sites, in workplaces by the mobile teams, or by workplaces that have received training by our commissioned service or the military outreach teams.
Recommendations within the paper;
•To note the progress to date with the current delivery of TTaS in Oldham.
•To note the wider testing requirements as National Government moves through the 4 step plan.
•To approve the additional financial, spend for the period of March 2021 for site hire, site maintenance, workforce, waste disposal and programme management.
•Understand the financing model we are undertaking with regards to draw down.

RESOLVED - That: Approval gained to continue operation of Targeted Testing at Scale from 1st March 2021 to 31st March 2021 to deliver testing for asymptomatic individuals in line with Greater Manchester and National Government’s Community testing programme.

To request approval from the Cabinet Member for Finance and Green for the adoption of a new policy to support officers and members to manage unreasonable behaviour from customers. The report also seeks approval for the updating of the current Corporate Complaints Policy.

RESOLVED - That:
That the Unreasonable Behaviour Policy and updated Corporate Complaints Policy is approved.
The approval of these policies will support officers and members to understand clearly what is expected of them, what options for action are available when customer and complainant behaviour is unreasonable, and who can authorise these actions

Procurement of enforcement services to support the collection of Council Tax and Business Rates

Decision (s) That an extension is provided for the External Enforcement Contract for 12 months under the Council’s Constitution - Contract Procedure Rule 21.3 (j) – where an exemption for a particular period can be justified