Decisions

The Rapid Response Pathway, Community Bed based Health & Social Intermediate Care is part of transformation of intermediate care and wider system redesign as part of Doncaster Place Plan. The Positive Step capacity to support DTOC is also part of the Intermediate care redesign. Both business cases requested an extension of 12 months in March 2019. These were approved but only for six months and both were aligned to be reviewed at the same time. It was anticipated that through the Intermediate Care review, the future model and hence funding for the Rapid Response Pathway and Positive Steps Unit – PSU - would have been secured. However, this has not happened in the timescales required. An extension of a further six months has therefore been agreed.

To agree to use the Non-recurrent Better Care Fund Earmarked Reserve allocated to the Place Plan.
Intermediate Care Rapid Response Pathway
Approve the extension of the non- recurrent BCF funding for six months (1 March 2019 – 30 September 2019) - £362,123 - to enable the continuation of the Rapid Response Service until the resources can be released from the bed based service.
Approve the extension of the non- recurrent BCF funding for a further six months (1 October 2019 – 31 March 2020) - £362,123.
Positive Step Unit Capacity to support DTOC
Approve the extension of the non- recurrent BCF funding for six months (1 March 2019 – 30 September 2019)
Extension of 6 additional Support Worker x 24 hour part time posts (0.65 FTE) - £41,820
3 part time x 21.5 hour part time posts - (0.58 FTE) - £25,500 Total £67,320
Approve the extension of the non- recurrent BCF funding for a further six months (1 October 2019 – 31 March 2020) - £67,320
Total investment required: £858,886

The CRM system is heavily utilised by Customer Services as well a number of different services throughout the council The current CRM system is long overdue an upgrade to the latest version. The council procured its current CRM solution (Lagan) in 2012 and has been utilised as a central point of digital developments, communication and relationship management for customers, residents of Doncaster, Doncaster Council staff and its partners.

The council’s current version of Lagan (version 8) is out of date and is running on best endeavour support with the supplier. Upgrading to (version 15.4), will provide a supported version and it will remove a number of critical issues that are caused by the current version.

Additional reasons for the decision are:

- A CRM system & integrations which are fully supported
- Improving the organisations PSN compliance due to java & browser compatibility
- Removing current PSN compliance issues relating to the CRM
- Provide additional features which can be leveraged in future Digital Transformation projects

This option utilises a path of least resistance considering time and cost, as the procurement route is via the incumbent provider and contract.

To approve the purchase of an upgrade for the organisations Customer Relationship Management system. Upgrading of the infrastructure hosting the CRM (Lagan) environment and preparation for software upgrade.

Doncaster Council are currently approaching the end of a 3 year contract with Microsoft for the licensing of the Desktop Software and Productivity Products. A new contract must be in place by the 1st of June 2019.
The council’s ICT desktop estate runs on Microsoft Desktop Operating Systems (Microsoft Windows) and productivity products (Microsoft Office).
An Enterprise Agreement is the most efficient way to meet the council’s requirements for Microsoft software. Microsoft software underpins the majority of the council’s day to day working, line of business applications and customer interactions.
Licensing the organisation this way will secure unit pricing for 3 years to allow predictable cost management and flexibility.
In February 2018 Microsoft made a major announcement how the UK Public Sector would receive price support from May 1st 2018.
As part of the UK government’s Cloud-First policy, the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has signed a new, non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Microsoft that will help the government’s ongoing digital transformation agenda and the UK governments Cloud-First policy. This arrangement is called Digital Transformation Arrangement (DTA).
The products chosen on this recommended option leverage Microsoft 365 technologies that are heavily discounted in the Digital Transformation Arrangement.
The new technologies that are deployed with Microsoft 365 better serve our workforce, customers, residents and partners by offering enhanced security, collaboration, information protection, new online services and a modern workplace environment.
This option will allow the council to stay current with software versions to protect against vulnerabilities.
Future savings will be made by utilising the included cloud services which will drastically reduce the requirement for on premise hardware, support and 3rd party products that are currently in situ.
In January 2019 procurement tested the market, sending our requirements to all suppliers on Lot 1. From the responses, it was discovered that our incumbent supplier still offered best value.

DECISION TAKEN
Enter into two contracts:
1. A 3 year contract with Trustmarque solutions Ltd (a reseller for Microsoft) and
2. A 3 year Enterprise licensing agreement with Microsoft for licensing of Doncaster Councils Desktop, Server and Productivity software, choosing Microsoft 365 products that allow for the use of cloud technologies to support a modern and agile desktop. DCST will be named as an Affiliate on the DMBC licence with Microsoft and as such DMBC will be responsible for the actions / omissions of DCST.
The route to market for this contract will be the KCS Framework Y17038 – Lot 1 – Microsoft, which is a fully EU compliant framework.

Since 2008, the Council has used outside agencies for the collection of a number of its debts including Council Tax, Business Rates, Sundry Debts, Parking debts and Housing Benefit over payments.
The most recent contract for these services was awarded from the 25th January 2016 for a maximum period of 4 years. The contract was procured under 000587 YPO Enforcement Agency DPS Model call off framework. The contract is due to expire on the 24th January 2020.
As central funding to local government continues to reduce, it is now more important than ever to maximise income collection. In order to recover these unpaid amounts, professional enforcement services may be required, as permitted under various legislation. This knowledge and skills is outside the existing specialisms of the Council, meaning that 3rd party organisations are required in this area. By obtaining specialist Enforcement Agency firms, the Council should be able to take the required action more effectively, potentially recovering unpaid amounts or minimising future losses.
The YPO framework has been replaced by framework 000953 and by re-procuring using the framework the Council will continue to actively pursue its debts using specialist services.

To appoint a minimum of 3 Enforcement Agent companies for the recovery of unpaid Council Tax and Business Rates (Non-Domestic Rates); Parking debts; Former Tenant Rent Arrears; Housing Benefit over payments; sundry debts and commercial rents in order to maximise income for the Council. The contract is to begin at the expiry of the existing award on the 25th January 2020 and it will be awarded for a period of 4 years under the terms of YPO Framework 000953 Enforcement Agency Services.