Agenda item

To consider Item 7

The Head of Prevention, Response and Resilience advised Members that this report related to the Thames Valley Fire Control Service, and as Members were aware, this Authority entered into an interagency agreement for the provision of the control room which went live in April 2015, along with Oxfordshire County Council and Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service. There were two contracts that underpin the control room, and these were provided by Capita through their Secure Solutions and Services Business. The contracts were the mobilising system contract, and the contract for the provision, maintenance and support of the DS300 Integrated Communication Control System (ICCS).

Earlier this year, the Authority became aware that Capita was looking to undertake an extensive review of this particular portfolio, and this resulted in a new company being formed called Capita SSS Limited. The two contracts currently provided sit within Capita Secure Information Solutions Limited, which was a subsidiary of Capital PLC. The Deed of Novation was to move those contracts from Capita Secure Information Services into this new company within Capita.

The Head of Prevention, Response and Resilience advised Members that under this interagency agreement, if there were any changes that underpin the arrangements in terms of the control room function, then each respective authority needed to approve it. The same report would be presented to Royal Berkshire Fire Authority and Oxfordshire County Council seeking their approval for the transfer. If there was agreement to both recommendations, the Authority was also agreeing to permit Royal Berkshire Fire Authority and Oxfordshire County Council to allow that Capita SSS Limited to be potentially sold to NEC Software Solutions UK Limited. At the last meeting of the Executive Committee, the decision was taken to extend the mobilising contract to March 2023. This would allow the Authority to fully appreciate what potentially the new provider could offer in terms of the level of service the Authority was accustomed to with Capita. If the new company did not uphold the standards expected, then obviously there was the option to go out to market and look to identify a more appropriate provider.

The Chairman asked if anything was known about the new company NEC Software Solutions UK Limited.

The Area Commander advised that they were someone quite prominent within the emergency services arena and another Member advised that he was aware they were a reputable company.

A Member asked who else was in that marketplace and what reputation do these providers have.

The Head of Prevention, Response and Resilience advised that in terms of the Deed of Novation, the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority and Oxfordshire County Council would be transferring the contract between Capita companies. If it was agreed, and Capita were looking to sell that part of their business, then all the contractual obligations, liabilities in relation to transferring the contract would be that the new provider would be expected to deliver the same service, and that’s the level of reassurance that had been provided.

RESOLVED –

1.               That approval be given for the Deed or Novation between Oxfordshire County Council, Royal Berkshire Fire Authority, Capita Secure Information Solutions Limited (“CSIS”) and Capita (SSS) Limited (in relation to the ‘Mobilising System Contract’) to be completed.

2.               That approval be given for the Deed of Novation between Royal Berkshire Fire Authority Capita Secure Information Solutions Limited (“CSIS”), and Capita (SSS) Limited, in relation to the contract for the provision, maintenance and support of the DS3000 Integrated Communication Control System (ICCS).