Decision details

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, it is not possible to run a Rest Centre in response to an emergency in the previous manner. The use of hotel accommodation will assist in providing “isolated” accommodation for those who are critically vulnerable and not positive cases.
Calders Conferencing have rapid 24/7 access to a wide selection of hotels across the area, which would provide more rapid solutions to this type of accommodation, than trying to source this ourselves.

To sign the Enabling Agreement with Calder's Conference and World of Travel, in line with Government guidance and through Crown Commercial Procurement Service, for provision of emergency hotel accommodation in the event of an emergency requiring evacuation, and to deliver COVID secure emergency accommodation in line with Government Guidance.

Option 1 - Sign the standard agreement negotiated nationally by the Crown Commercial Services as recommended by Government.
Option 2 - Seek to arrange our own agreement. Impractical partly due to a) Resourcing such a large procurement b) Losing the combined Crown Commercial Services purchasing power c) The likelihood that a nationally agreed Calder's contract would be honoured before a separate TDC contract in a 'multi-district' incident.
Option 3 - Do nothing and hope we don't have to provide resident assistance during an Emergency Planning response. Discarded on the basis that we would be in breach of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and potentially putting our residents' lives at risk which is unthinkable.