Issue - meetings

B Report of the Director of Finance and Support

1.      Cabinet confirmed the Council’s participation in a new contract for the provision of Agency Staff to the Northamptonshire Area Procurement Services’ (NAPS) partners.

2.      Cabinet approved an amendment in the policy attached at Appendix 1 of the report and as outlined in recommendation 2.2 in the report.

Councillor Mildren commented that it would have been helpful had the report included the numbers of agency staff that the Council currently used and a forecast for the future.  He noted that the Council’s budget indicated that permanent staff as they left would be replaced with temporary staff “on a permanent basis”.  He noted that this initiative was being led by the County Council but that several authorities were also included.  He also noted the comments as to risk and possible challenge by an unsuccessful bidder.  He queried whether this meant Carrilion.  He noted that under the new charge rates if we employed our own people the cost would be lower, however, if pension fund costs were added then the cost would be £1 to £3 per hour higher.

Councillor Clarke commented that an Overview and Scrutiny Task and Finish Group was looking at this area of work and that it was unfortunate that Cabinet was to make a decision on this before that report had been completed.  He commented that the reality of the situation was that there were migrant workers at Westbridge who came in each day to see if they had a day’s work; agency workers had no employment rights and no adequate training.  He queried whether the Council should be taking part in this.

The Director of Finance and Support submitted a report, which sought approval to the continuation of provision of agency staff to the Council through a managed serviced contract from April 2010 and to update Cabinet on the outcome of procurement basis taken in conjunction with Northamptonshire County Council, Northamptonshire District Council, Northamptonshire Police and the Welland Partnership.  She noted that the existing contract had ended in August 2009 and had been extended to allow for the tendering process.  The Director confirmed that the County Council had led on the procurement process in conjunction with the other partners.  A new contract would be for two years with the option of a two year extension.  The Director noted that there was no connection to the County Council’s Carrilion contract.  In answer to another question, the Director noted that prior to 2007 the Council used agency staff on an ad hoc basis, paying higher agency rates.  It was noted that all the partner authorities were currently considering approval of new contracts.

RESOLVED (1) That the Council’s participation in a new contract of provision of agency staff to the Northamptonshire Area Procurement Services’ (NAPS) partners, as detailed in the report, be confirmed.

                        (2) That the amendment to the policy attached as Appendix 1 to the report to use the named company as detailed in the report in place of the current provider with effect from 1 July 2010 be approved.