Decision details

Agreed that -

·       Members note the content of this paper.

·       In order to meet ongoing contractual obligations until the end of 2017/18, with the minimal necessary staffing complement, to recommend to Council that member approval is sought for the indicative net cost of £455,918 to be covered by Argyll and Bute Council’s earmarked reserves as a one-off cost obligation.

·       As the contract extension will not be signed by Argyll and Bute Council, it should be noted by members that referrals to the WP will continue for vulnerable Argyll and Bute residents during 2016/17 through the prime contractors Working Links and Ingeus responsible for WP delivery throughout Scotland.

·       Members note that it is not clear what the devolved Welfare to Work programmes will entail and how these will be delivered from 1^st April 2017 onwards. It is anticipated that local authorities will be integral to the delivery of these new programmes.

·       Members note that the Council’s Chief Executive Officer has made representations to the Scottish Government on shaping the delivery of devolved Welfare to Work services with regard to local authority activity in Scotland from 1^st April 2017.