Decision details

For the Assistant Director of Regeneration and Economic Development, as permitted by CSO 8.03 to award a contract to Inner Circle Consulting for project management services, related to the work described in para 5.13 for a total value of up to £145,031 for a period of 6 months, with the Council reserving the right to extend the period where this can be contained within the agreed contract budget.

Since the success of the Council’s bid for Levelling-Up funding announced in January 2023, the Selby Urban Village masterplan project, the pace of the programme has accelerated to meet the milestone requirements set by the funding regime.

Currently there are insufficient resources to deliver the programme at this accelerated rate, therefore an interim consultant resource is needed to bring the expertise and capacity required to progress the project.

Following a competitive Request for Quotation (RfQ) process, Inner Circle was deemed to have submitted the most economically advantageous tender. As such it is recommended that the contract for project management services be awarded to them.

This is an interim arrangement ahead of establishment to a permanent post to lead the projects.

Until then Inner Circle have been appointed through a competitive tendering exercise under the RFQ and was the highest scoring bidder. Inner Circle are currently working on Selby from a previous appointment so this now ensures we will continue with the existing skillset and resource available in an expedient manner and that work can be completed quickly given Inner Circle’s extensive knowledge of the area and project and the way the Council works including governance and decision making.

Do nothing – The Council have demonstrated a commitment to delivering the scheme by securing Levelling Up Funding. The ‘do nothing’ option was therefore rejected as the Selby Urban Village Project could not proceed without an experienced project management resource. Without this resource the Council would be at high risk of not meeting Levelling-Up fund deadlines and therefore risk forgoing £20M grant funding and the opportunity to deliver the proposed community benefits of the scheme.

Direct Award – Due to the potential value of this commission, the Direct Award option was rejected as it would require a waiver of the Council’s Contract Standing Orders to do so. The RFQ process (RfQ) did not introduce significant delay to the programme and therefore it was deemed that a compliant procurement route was more advantageous to the Council’s overall interest.