In accordance with the delegations provided by Cabinet to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Council’s Monitoring Officer and the Section 151 Officer, at its meeting on 20th December 2024, it is decided that the Council signs up to Essex County Council’s Managed Service Solution framework for temporary workers for up to 3 years with effect from 10 February 2025.

Essex County Council (ECC) has implemented a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) to efficiently place job roles with external agency worker providers within predefined rate bands and percentage mark-ups. This system complies with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR15), allows new providers to join upon application, and ensures consistent and transparent rates and mark-ups.

With 250 agencies on its framework, ECC has secured reduced rates that would be unattainable without this arrangement. ECC collaborates with Matrix SCM, a private sector workforce management provider, to handle the engagement of temporary workers, including timesheet management, payroll, billing, and direct invoicing to the council.

Joining the ECC Managed Service Solution framework for temporary workers guarantees compliance with procurement regulations, offers cost reduction opportunities, and ensures access to quality agency worker resources. Additionally, it streamlines oversight and control of spending through management information, reducing the council's resource requirements for engaging agency workers and managing contracts.

Full Tender Process: Initiating a full tender process for each service contract would be time-consuming, leading to service delivery gaps until a new contractor is appointed. Additionally, it is likely to incur higher costs compared to the proposed arrangement.

Direct Employment: While ideal, recruiting high-quality professionals for fixed-term positions in Tendring is challenging due to the existing salary structure.

Alternative Compliant Frameworks: Options like the East of England Local Government Association (EELGA) Talent Bank may be suitable for specific assignments requiring particular skill sets. However, they may not offer the comprehensive coverage for 'business as usual' roles that the ECC framework provides and may not be more cost-effective. Similar frameworks do not demonstrate the same value-for- money considerations.