1.1          The pooling of budgets with Essex County Council, Southend City Council, and the Essex Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioners Office - currently funded from both Childrens Services and the Adults Housing and Health budget from core funding (and grant funding from the Department For Levelling Up Housing and Communities) for a total value of £2,273,880 over a 7 year contract term.

1.2          To note an efficiency saving of £57,325 p.a. reflecting the efficiencies created through joint procurement.

1.3          That Cabinet note that this reduction will not negatively impact services with no loss or reduction of service. Through joint regional procurement arrangements and continued use of Home Office and Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities funding the Council will see an increase in real terms capacity of services and enable further investment.

1.4          That the power to award the contract under joint procurement arrangements is delegated to the Executive Director of Childrens Services and the Executive Director of Adults, Housing, and Health in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Childrens Services and Housing.

1.5          That the power to agree decisions on the allocation of funds from the ‘Safe Accommodation New Burdens’ funding to any joint procurement arrangements and expenditure committed internally, as permitted by the funding guidelines is delegated to the Executive Director of Adults, Housing, and Health in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Childrens Services and Housing.