This report provides an update on the recommissioning process and outcome to award a contract for Controlled Drinking Environments. A tender was undertaken during December 2022 – January 2023, in conjunction with the Council’s  Housing Services  team for the provision of Accommodation-Based Housing Related Support Services (Hostel) (Lot 1) and Controlled Drinking Environments Service (Lot 2). The process has concluded, the tenders received have been fully evaluated according to Council procurement rules and the Director of Public Health is requested  to award the Controlled Drinking Environments contract (Lot 2) to the preferred bidder, Birkenhead Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA).

The activity outlined in this report supports the vision of the Wirral Plan 2021-2026, to ‘create equity for people and place’ and opportunities for all to secure the best possible future for resident, communities and businesses. It contributes directly or indirectly to delivering the following themes of the plan:

•  Safe and Pleasant Communities

•  Active and Healthy Lives

The proposed actions do have any significant  Ward implications. 

This is not a  Key Decision.

Resolved – That the Director of Public Health has decided to approve the award of a contract for a 12 month term with two 12-month extension options, to YMCA wirral (registered company; Birkenhead Young Men’s Christian Association) for the controlled drinking environments service

The current contract for the Controlled Drinking Environments Service  ended on  30^th April 2023. A procurement exercise has been completed in accordance with Council Contract Procedure Rules. The new contract will be in place on  1^st May 2023.

The time spent in a Controlled Drinking Environment is a positive alternative to street drinking. In 2022 the Controlled Drinking Environment was used on 2,008 occasions and provided 1,035 meals and 6,195 non-alcoholic or hot drinks to the people using the facility. This contact leads to referrals into specialist treatment and other positive outcomes. If this service was not provided, the level of engagement with a vulnerable and often hard to engage group would be greatly reduced and the levels of harm they experience from their drinking is likely to be greater.

The presence of people drinking on the streets in Birkenhead is also likely to increase. For these reasons the continuation of this service, and the benefits it provides is seen to be valuable. Therefore, not recommissioning the service was not considered as a viable option.

It is necessary to recommission the service highlighted in order to comply with Public Contract Regulations and the Council’s Contract Procedure rules. Other options related to contract length and contract value have been considered.