21 Approval to Procure and Award Contract to undertake Reconfiguration Works to Strawberry Fields Digital Office
To receive and consider the report of the Director of Commercial Services.
Decision:
1. Approval to award the contract for building works for the reconfiguration of first and ground floors to contractor A for the tendered sum.
2. Approval to award contracts for ancillary works required to alarm systems, mobile phone boosting and carparks barrier to approved framework contractors.
Minutes:
Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member (Resources), presented the report of the Director of Commercial which sought approval to award contracts, utilising an approved framework contractor, for works to reconfigure Strawberry Fields to increase the number of offices available to meet demand and additional budget.
Members noted the demand for this type of business space and the change in need following the pandemic. The investment would generate further income for the council over the existing revenue forecast and accommodate local businesses.
Decision:
1. Approval to award the contract for building works for the reconfiguration of first and ground floors to contractor A for the tendered sum.
2. Approval to award contracts for ancillary works required to alarm systems, mobile phone boosting and carparks barrier to approved framework contractors.
Reasons for recommendations:
1. A waiver of procurement rules has been approved to ensure works can commence on site and mitigate further increased materials costs (due to inflation) and realise new revenue as soon as possible.
2. To enable the delivery of a new CCTV control room, to facilitate a change in service delivery, works need to be completed by October 2022.
3. Works are to be procured through an existing framework contractor who have recently completed reconfiguration works to the second floor of Strawberry Fields with previous works being used to benchmark new costs.
Other options considered and rejected:
1. Procurement of works through open chest. The timescales to undertake approvals, evaluation and award would prevent delivery of changes within required timescales.
2. Due to increasing manufacturing costs for glass and plasterboard delay in commencing works would potentially see a significant increase in cost. Current prices are valid until the end of July 2022.