The Director of Children’s Services presented a report which provided the Cabinet with information on the arrangements for the future commissioning of Connexions Services.

Resolved: - That

(1)  the existing contract with Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership be amended to cover the period to 30th September 2009, pending the completion of procurement processes;

(2)  the new contract for ‘connexions services’ cover the period 30th September   2009 to 31st March 2012 with an option of an extension to the contract for a further period of up to 3 years, but for the contract to accommodate an appropriate break clause in the event of poor performance or reduced financial capacity to commission the service to the level previously agreed;

(3)  Halton Borough Council be the lead Authority for procurement of the new arrangements on behalf of the 6 participating Merseyside Local Authorities;

(4)  Halton Borough Council becomes the contract holding Authority on behalf of the 6 participating Merseyside Local Authorities from the City Region for the new contract when awarded with the appropriate cross Authority commitments; and

(5)  Wirral Council enter into an agreement with Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership Limited to extend the current contract to 30 September 2009 provided the other five Merseyside Local Authorities agree to the extension and to pay their previously agreed proportion of the payments due to the company under the extended contract.