Decision details

Due to the onset of Omicron variant and the additional winter pressures this has caused there to be requirement for a number of exemptions to be put in place to ensure discharges from hospitals and other requirements can be accommodated in a timely manner.

The intention to make a key decision on the report ‘Winter Pressures and Covid-19 Plan for Adult Social Care’ at the meeting was not published in advance as required by the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.  The decision was urgent and could not be reasonably delayed for the following reason:

·       Due to the onset of the Omicron variant and the additional winter pressures, this has caused there to be a requirement for a number of exemptions to be put in place to ensure discharges from hospitals and that other requirements can be accommodated in a timely manner.

In light of the above, consent had been obtained for the key decision to be made at the meeting under the General Exception provisions.

Councillor Stephen Simkins asked Cabinet to approve the recommendations contained in the report, Winter Pressures and Covid-19 Plan for Adult Social Care.

Councillor Linda Leach reported that due to significant national Covid-19 pressures and subsequent impact, the Winter Pressures and Covid-19 Plan Adult Social Care for managing the period December 2021 to March 2022 required additional contracts outside of the framework contracts already in place to maintain the Council’s statutory duties set out in the Care Act 2014.  Approval was therefore requested to enable Adult Services to commission services to source emergency packages of care due to the unprecedented demand and circumstances caused by Covid-19.

Resolved:

That the Council be authorised to enter into contracts with the suppliers listed in Section 3.12 of the report without going through a detailed procurement process in light of the winter pressures and Covid-19 situation.