This report seeks approval for the award of contracts for insurance for the Council’s Combined Liability (Public and Employee Liability), Motor Fleet and Property insurance arrangements.

The Committee consider a report seeking approval to undertake a competitive tendering process for the Council’s insurance arrangements, with a view to new contracts being in place by 1 April 2026. The report explained that the Council’s current insurance contracts would expire on 31 March 2026 and that a new procurement exercise was required in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.

The report set out the Council’s current approach to insurance, which balanced self-retained risk with external insurance cover, and proposed that this approach be continued. It was noted that the new contracts would include provision for Combined Liability (Public and Employer’s Liability), Motor Fleet, and Property insurance, and would also incorporate run-off cover for the decommissioned Children’s Company, Brighter Futures for Children.

It was noted that the current year’s total value of insurance contracts was £1.2million.  The estimated value of the new contracts over a seven-year period was £8.4 million, subject to variables such as claims history, staffing levels, market conditions, and insurance premium tax.

Resolved -

(1)  That an open tender procedure be carried out with a view to the resultant insurance contract(s) being in place by 1st April 2026 allowing for an element of both self-insurance and cover by an external insurance policy as set out in 3. 3.2 of the associated report be agreed;

(2)  That the Director of Finance in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Corporate Services and Resources and the Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to make relevant decisions regarding policy cover, levels of deductibles and award the contract at the end of the tender process to the winning tenderer/s;

(3)  That the Director of Finance be authorised to approve the runoff insurance cover where appropriate for the decommissioned Children’s Company ‘Brighter Futures for Children’.