The Committee considered a report seeking authority to award a new Flexible Response Service to Rough Sleeping contract.

The report explained that the Flexible Response Service to Rough Sleeping was the Council’s core rough sleeping outreach service, providing assertive engagement, safeguarding and pathways into accommodation for some of Reading’s most vulnerable residents.

The exempt report set out the procurement approach and proposed options.

Resolved –

(1)        That the Executive Director of Communities and Adult Social Care, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Housing, the Director of Legal and Democratic Services and the Director of Finance, be authorised to award a new, time-limited contract for the Flexible Response Service for Rough Sleeping to St Mungo’s for a period of up to 15 months from 21 June 2026, with a maximum annual contract value of £659,540, to ensure continuity of critical outreach provision.