Decision details

Extension of a contract with Cast Media Group for the Shared Ownership Marketing and Sales Services at 500 White Lane

Decision Maker: Assistant Director for Housing

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decision:

To extend the Council’s contract with Cast Media Group Limited for shared ownership marketing and sales services, increasing that contract’s value from £30,000 to £35,000 exclusive of VAT in order to allow additional marketing of the remaining unsold home at 500 White Hart Lane

Reasons for the decision:

Market conditions for shared ownership sales are challenging. The Council therefore needs to provide a contingency for incentives and additional bespoke sales and marketing to sell the remaining new home.
It is in the Council’s overall interest (CSO 10.01.02) to vary the contract because Cast Media Group Limited (‘Cast Media’) have detailed and unique knowledge of the particular scheme and the market relating to it and are judged to have performed within their existing contract to a high level.

Alternative options considered:

The Council could carry out a new procurement exercise. This option was rejected for three reasons. Firstly, having marketed the other homes, Cast Media have a unique knowledge of the scheme and related market. Secondly, there is only one shared ownership property remaining for disposal and competitive tendering is unlikely to attract interest. Thirdly, competitive tendering would be time-consuming and any further delay to the sales rate could have a significant financial impact on the financial viability of 500 White Hart Lane new build housing programme, especially in the current housing market.

Publication date: 28/10/2021

Date of decision: 27/10/2021

Accompanying Documents:

  • 3 September 2020 Delegated Decision to Appoint Cast Media Group LTD