Following consideration by the Strategic Housing Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Housing resolved that:
1) a retrospective exemption from the requirement to open the tenders in the presence of the relevant Cabinet Member (Contracts Procedure Rule No. 9) be agreed;
2) the significant amount of hard work and dedication given to the Agency over the past years by all the staff including the Home Improvement Agency Manager, Lesley Wheal, the Technical Officer, Peter Bourne and the Home Improvement Agency Administration Assistant, Nicola Longhurst, be acknowledged;
3) the Kent Supporting People team be approached to assign the contract with the Council's Home Improvement Agency to 'in touch';
4) the Home Improvement Agency be outsourced to 'in touch' on the terms set out in the report and as soon as is practicably possible;
5) as soon as a date of commencement for the transfer has been agreed this improved service be promoted to residents; and
6) any associated support groups have Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council representation in the form of the Cabinet Member for Housing, the Chairman of the Strategic Housing Advisory Board, and/or the Vice-Chairman of the Strategic Housing Advisory Board, and a Member of the Opposition.

Reasons: As set out in the report submitted to the Strategic Housing Advisory Board of 19 May 2008.