Decision details

Approval to appoint under Contract Standing Order 8.02 a supplier to deliver an online advent calendar promoting small businesses and town centres to encourage more people to shop local for Christmas.

The solution will be delivered by Flok, to rework the existing 2020 advent calendar site for 2021, using an updated design and additional features, with new content provided by businesses.

Total Project Cost = £3,500 (excluding VAT)

Due to the contract value, one quote is sufficient in awarding of this contract, via the Council’s procurement rules.

The advent calendar will form part of a coordinated programme of festive events and attract footfall back to the high street post-pandemic, in support of local traders who recently suffered a decline in trade. This initiative also forms part of the Council’s High Street Recovery Action Plan to support high street businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and improve their reach and economic vitality; particularly as the digital format ensures full accessibility for residents.

Flok have a proven track record of delivering digital Christmas campaigns and online websites (including Haringey’s 2020 advent calendar) aimed at local residents, including adhering to the council’s required accessibility practices.

1) Do Nothing – would not help improve the town centre trading environment during recent challenging trading conditions, or support the area to ‘bounce back’, encourage residents back to the high street at the most important trading time of the year, nor underpin the Council’s Live.Shop.Local campaign.

2) Go out to tender on the open market and assess responses. This option was discounted because the contract value is below £10k and the existing supplier has a proven local track record, and therefore is best placed to deliver the project.