Decision details

Approval to appoint under Contract Standing Order 8.02 for a supplier to deliver an element of festive events in partnership with the relevant Traders Associations across November and December 2021 using Welcome Back Fund grant.

The service will be delivered by The Christmas Decorators Ltd, to provide a Christmas Grotto in the following town centres:

• Muswell Hill – 20 November
• Turnpike Lane - 2 December
• Myddleton Road – 5 December

These will be dressed to provide the atmosphere appropriate for visiting Santa. In addition, each location will be provided with a 3m x 3m winter grade pop-up gazebo to provide a covered area for Santa’s Elves, buggies, etc.

Total Project Cost = £4,450 (excluding VAT)

Due to the contract value, one quote is sufficient in awarding of this contract, although ERDF procurement rules were followed on a three quotes system. We sought quotes from three suppliers and The Christmas Decorators were the only one to respond. They achieved an overall score of 96%.

There is a high demand from traders and members for on-street festive events in various town centres across the borough, and for Traders Associations to be supported.

These events will serve this need and attract footfall back to the high street post-pandemic, in support of local traders who recently suffered decline in trade. This is a key element that has been agreed with the supplier so that the town centre will have the greatest positive impact with its target audience. This initiative would also form 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.

The Christmas Decorators Ltd have a proven track record of delivering Christmas dressings for events and trees, including adhering to Health and Safety and COVID-safe 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 again on the open market and assess responses, as this was the only response to the RFQ. This option was discounted because the contract value is below £10k and the existing supplier has a proven track record locally, and therefore is best placed to deliver the event element.