Commissioners overseeing Liverpool Council have praised “focus and attention” being placed on contracts despite another agreement being allowed to run out.
When the local authority failed to promptly renew a dozen contracts ranging from its IT services to adult and social care, which could end up setting it back millions of pounds, the government appointed officials said last month it marked a “low point”. As senior members move to agree a series of new terms for eight services, the commissioners have recognised the council’s attempts to turn its fortunes around.
This is despite another set of agreements being allowed to run out, worth almost half a million pounds. When it meets next week, Liverpool Council’s cabinet will sign off on new contracts for eight services, including its adult and children’s services social care case management system with Liquid Logic.
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The two-year extension comes almost two months after the original terms had run out. The software provided by Liquidlogic is the core case management system that supports the contact, assessment and care functions across adults and children’s social care services.
A document explaining the contract said: “The contract has continued to be utilised by both parties and therefore following consultation with legal services the council is of the opinion that the contract has by its continuation has been extended by virtue of the conduct of the parties. For the avoidance of doubt however the council will enter into a legal agreement with Liquidlogic to formally document the contract extension.”
In their remarks regarding the extensions, the commissioners delivered their verdict on progress. The report said: “The cabinet report in June set out the risks and issues that the Council faces by not having a controlled process to manage its procurement and contract management arrangements.
“Commissioners provided clear comments at that point. This report identifies further contracts that need extension, most within existing contract extension provisions.
“Our comments from June still stand but we welcome the focus and attention paid to this matter over the last month. We also welcome the decision to appoint a senior officer to lead the procurement function in the short term.
“We also look forward to seeing the outcomes of the fundamental procurement review that has now been initiated.” Following the initial set of 12 expired or expiring contracts that had run out, two further agreements in need of renewal were found, including the council’s debt collectors and its card payment processing service.
Last month, chief executive Tony Reeves told cabinet members the council had “nowhere to hide” as it attempts to rectify the “embedded practice” that led to multiple contract failings. Mayor Joanne Anderson said the local authority had to “get its house in order” as contracts were something it needed to “get a grip of”.
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