Decision

The Cabinet has decided to procure a Framework Agreement for the provision of support services for refugees in Gloucestershire.

Analysis

outcome: The Cabinet approved the procurement of the Framework Agreement and delegated authority to the Director of Public Health to finalize the procurement strategy and appoint preferred tenderer(s).

summary: The decision at stake is the procurement of a Framework Agreement for the provision of support services for refugees in Gloucestershire.

topline: The Cabinet has decided to procure a Framework Agreement for the provision of support services for refugees in Gloucestershire.

reason_contentious: This issue may be contentious as it involves the provision of support services for refugees and asylum seekers, which can be a sensitive topic for some local stakeholders.

affected_stakeholders: ["Refugees", "Asylum seekers", "District Councils", "Home Office"]

contentiousness_score: 6

political_party_relevance: There are no explicit mentions of political parties in the decision.

URL: https://glostext.gloucestershire.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=2455

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: To seek Cabinet approval to procure a Framework Agreement for the provision of support services for refugees, to replace existing county wide and County Council commissioned support contracts. District Councils in Gloucestershire will also be able to ‘call off’ their own contracts from the Framework where appropriate, to commission support for refugees and/or asylum seekers who are placed in their areas by the Home Office.  

Content: To seek Cabinet approval to procure a Framework Agreement for the provision of support services for refugees, to replace existing county wide and County Council commissioned support contracts. District Councils in Gloucestershire will also be able to ‘call off’ their own contracts from the Framework where appropriate, to commission support for refugees and/or asylum seekers who are placed in their areas by the Home Office.   Cllr Paul Hodgkinson sought Cabinet approval to procure a Framework Agreement for the provision of support services for refugees, to replace existing county wide and County Council commissioned support contracts.     Having considered all of the information, Cabinet noted the report and RESOLVED to:   Delegate authority to the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities & Fire, to: 1. Finalise the procurement strategy for an up to 4-year Framework Agreement relating to the supply of support services for refugees and asylum seekers;   2.Conduct a competitive procurement process in respect of above Framework Agreement; 3. Appoint the preferred tenderer(s) to the Framework Agreement; 4.Procure and award, subject to the financial restrictions set out in the Resource Implications section of this report below, as many call-off contracts (each for no more than 5 years) as may be required by GCC for the supply of support services for refugees under the Framework Agreement. In the event that the value of any individual call-off contract awarded by GCC under Recommendation 4 above exceeds £500,000, a separate key decision shall be sought in order to approve the award of such contract.

Date of Decision: July 23, 2025