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Decision details

Review of Commissioning – Housing, Welfare and Debt Advice Services

Decision Maker: Executive

Decision status: Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

The Council currently holds a contract with West Oxfordshire Citizens Advice for the provision of housing, welfare, and debt advice services. This contract is due to expire on 31 March 2027.
This report seeks approval to extend the existing contract, by way of a waiver, for a further three-year period. The proposed extension will ensure continuity of service provision both in advance of and following the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) process.

Decisions:

Councillor Alaric Smith, Executive Member for Finance, presented the item the purpose of which was to propose an extension by waiver to the current contract.

 

In his presentation Councillor Smith made the following points:

 

  • The report sought approval to extend the Council’s contract with West Oxfordshire Citizens Advice for housing, welfare and debt advice services for a further three years from April 2027 to March 2030.
  • The service was delivering strong outcomes for residents and had supported 3,408 residents with 8,393 issues in 2024/25, rising to 4,695 residents in 2025/26. Many residents presented with multiple and complex issues, which demonstrated the importance of accessible, independent advice to help prevent financial hardship, debt problems and homelessness.
  • The current contract expired in March 2027. The original procurement had attracted only one suitable provider. The report recommended extending the existing contract through an approved waiver to ensure continuity of support.
  • The report proposed increasing the Council’s annual contribution from £150,000 to £183,608 in 2027/28, with 3% inflationary uplifts in the following two years. The total cost of the three-year extension would be considered through the Council’s annual budget-setting process.
  • Without this service, there was a risk of increased financial hardship, reduced financial resilience, and higher levels of homelessness amongst vulnerable residents.
  • The proposal supported the Council’s priorities of Working Together for West Oxfordshire, Putting Residents First, and Enabling a Good Quality of Life for All.

 

Alternative options within the report were that the Executive may choose to discontinue this provision; however, doing so could lead to a greater number of residents experiencing financial hardship, increased levels of debt, and a heightened risk of homelessness among those who are already vulnerable.

 

The Executive may also choose to reduce the level of funding proposed; however, this could lead to a diminished level of service provision, resulting in fewer vulnerable residents being able to access the support they need.

 

Councillor Smith proposed accepting the recommendations in the report.

 

Councillor Sandra Coleman, Executive Member for Stronger Healthy Communities, seconded the proposals.

 

Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of the Council, commended the sensitive work undertaken by Citizens Advice, a service he noted was well used and regarded in the district. Councillor Graham considered the support of the Council to be a sound investment in communities, the benefits of which were detailed in the report. Finally, Councillor Graham noted that the duration of the contract would enable Citizens Advice to effectively plan and ensure staff retention.  

 

The proposals were put to the vote and agreed unanimously.

 

That the Executive resolved to:

1.    Agree a three-year extension to the current contract for Housing, Welfare and Debt Advice

2.    Agree that the extension is covered by a ‘waiver,’ signed by the Section 151 Officer and Assistant Director Shared Legal Services; and,

3.    Agree that the cost of a three-year extension, including a year-on-year inflationary increase as per paragraph 4.3, is factored into the draft budget and medium term financial strategy as part of the 2027/28 budget setting process.

Report author: Mandy Fathers

Publication date: 10/09/2026

Date of decision: 09/09/2026

Decided at meeting: 09/09/2026 - Executive

Date comes into force if not called in: 18/09/2026

Call-in deadline date: 17/09/2026

Current call-in Count: 0

Accompanying Documents:

 

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