Issue - meetings

(Report of the Director of Finance): To seek agreement to award the framework contract for Major Contractors for construction projects valued between £1,000,000 and £3,799,999.

(Report of the Director of Finance – Agenda Item 12): 

Details of the evaluation criteria which were set out in Appendices A and B to the interleaved report were the subject of a motion to exclude the press and public from the meeting as they contained exempt information relating to terms proposed or to be proposed to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods and services.

Councillor Meehan declared an interest in this item by virtue of being related to the owner of one of the companies which had submitted a tender.

In response to a question about rules governing the use of sub-contractors for schemes of this nature, we were informed that a paper had been produced for consideration initially by the Chief Executive’s Management Board (CEMB)  which recommended a number of improvements to sub-contracting arrangements. Following consideration by the CEMB a report would be brought forward to the Executive and in the meantime a note of clarification be circulated to Members of our Committee.

We noted that the framework would provide a contractual mechanism for all Council Directorates to select Works Contractors without the need to undergo further competition for every construction project, unless a mini-competition was thought appropriate. We also noted that the appointment of companies under this arrangement did not constitute a binding commitment to award, or agreement to carry out work by either party. However, before proceeding to agree the recommendations we wished them to be the subject of wider consultation with other Members of the Executive.

RESOLVED:

That consideration of the report be adjourned until after the special meeting of the Committee on 2 February to enable the comments of other Members of the Executive to be obtained.