RESOLVED:

1.    That the award of the main contract for Merton Adult Learning services be awarded to Supplier E, on an initial 3 year term from 1 August 2021, with extension provision of up to a further 2 years. The identities of the preferred and unsuccessful bidders are set out in Appendix A. The contract values for the proposed term are set out in Appendix B.

2.    That the authority to exercise the extension provision is delegated to the Director of Community & Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Skills, and subject to continued funding and satisfactory supplier performance.

The Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Skills presented the report and thanked the officers involved for their work.  She outlined the purpose of the report and gave an overview of the contract to provide adult learning services in the borough, which would be important in reskilling residents as part of the pandemic recovery.

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and the Climate Emergency welcomed the report and the improvements to the important service following the move to a commissioned model.

The Joint Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Performance, Recovery and the Local Economy also thanked the officers involved and the external funding received from the GLA and the ESFA; and welcomed the report which was important and timely for the pandemic recovery.

The Chair thanked all involved, including the Joint Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Education and welcomed the report.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the award of the main contract for Merton Adult Learning services be awarded to Supplier E, on an initial 3 year term from 1 August 2021, with extension provision of up to a further 2 years. The identities of the preferred and unsuccessful bidders are set out in Appendix A. The contract values for the proposed term are set out in Appendix B.

2.    That the authority to exercise the extension provision is delegated to the Director of Community & Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Skills, and subject to continued funding and satisfactory supplier performance.