Decision details

To approve the direct appointment of Altair for the value of £19,200 exclusive of VAT, as allowed by Contract Standing Order 10.01.2.d and to waive CSO 8.03, to provide the services set out in the delegated authority report, section 5.4

As the Business Development Acquisitions programme has been significantly accelerated over the last year, there has been a resourcing challenge for the team to meet. A small team of only 3 full-time staff are running the acquisitions of hundreds of homes.

As the programme continues to grow, the Head of Business Development has identified the need to add resource to give sufficient attention to the areas of GLA/LAHF Programme Management and Compliance, financial appraisals and data management, and governance support. This aims to ensure the team, and its activities, grow in a compliant, agile, assured, and efficient way. However, there are not currently the resources available to complete the required tasks within these areas of programme management. Therefore, an external resource is required.

Further, there is a need to ensure processes and procedures are properly codified to ensure the team is working in a way that embodies consistency, best practice, value for money, and efficiency for the Council. However, there are not currently the resources available to complete the required work to map the current processes and carry out the task of improving and streamlining them. Therefore, an external specialist resource is required.

At £19,200 (excl. VAT), the value of this contract is below the applicable threshold, and the nature of the market for the goods and services to be provided by Altair has been investigated and is such that a departure from the requirements of Contract Standing Orders is justifiable and is in the Council's overall interest (CSO 10.01.2d).

The Council could competitively tender this work. This option was rejected because it would cost the Council additional money and time, and because it would be unproductive. Altair has a unique and detailed knowledge of the Council’s programme governance processes, and ways of working and is already intimately involved with the working of the Business Development Acquisitions Team. Directly awarding the contract to Altair is in the best interests of the Council.

The Council could carry out this work internally. This option was rejected because the Council does not currently have the necessary in-house resource without taking away staff from their critical day-to-day roles.