A report by the Interim Director of Corporate Services informed Members of the procurement of a cross-authority floating (visiting) housing-related support service for offenders subject to Multi- Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), through the Supporting People Programme.

The procurement of this service assisted the Council to achieve its corporate priority of supporting vulnerable people to maintain their independence in the community.

The award of this three year contract had resulted in a saving to Wirral Supporting People of £17, 428 per year (£52,284 over the three years of the contract). The aim of this service was to reduce levels of re-offending and would therefore also assist partners in the Criminal Justice System.

Whilst the award of Council funding for this provision was not a statutory requirement,  Section 325 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 imposed a ‘duty to co-operate’ with the MAPPA Responsible Authority (Police, Prisons and Probation) upon a number of bodies including councils.

RESOLVED:

That the further extension of the current contract and the procurement of a cross-authority floating housing-related support service for Offenders subject to MAPPA be noted.