Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member noted the report, which sought authorisation to appoint an Independent Tenant & Leaseholder Advisory (ITLA) Services Framework to assist in estate renewal, for a four-year period.

Officers advised that the Council had been successfully using an ITLA at the Love Lane estate, as part of the High Road West scheme for the past three years. The existing ITLA had proved very popular with residents. Due to procurement regulations, the Council had reached a financial threshold with its existing ITLA and sought approval to enter into a framework contract, which would provide additional flexibility and give residents a choice of ITLA.

Officers emphasised that the funding, resourcing and supporting an ITLA would be done on a project by project basis. It was noted that a contract would need to be drawn up for the framework, once a decision to proceed with a framework for the four bidders had been agreed. Officers clarified that discussions were ongoing as to how the framework would interact with the HDV and whether the appointment of an ITLA from the framework would be a Council or HDV responsibility.

In response to a question on what the likely cost would be, officers acknowledged that High Road West scheme would need to appoint a new ITLA fairly quickly to replace the current arrangement. However, it was difficult to give an estimate of cost at this stage as each of the schemes were different and would need to appoint their own ITLA, dependant on the size and the nature of the project.

Cllr Cater asked whether there was a brief available for the bids. Officers, advised that the specification had been listed on the procurement portal and that this included an extensive range of requirements for bidders to meet. Officers agreed to speak to Procurement to ascertain whether the information was publically available. (Action: Matthew Maple).  An overview of the requirements was listed at Paragraph 2.3 of the report.

In response to a request for clarification on the extent to which the ITLA was independent from the Council and the likelihood of it advising residents to not co-operate with Council, officers advised that this was unlikely and that the job of the ITLA was to facilitate and not obstruct regeneration work.  Officers clarified that the role of the ITLA was to facilitate a good relationship between the Council and residents. The ITLA was there to give advice and guidance to residents, given their extensive experience of dealing with estate regeneration across different local authorities. The need for advice and guidance was pertinent due the complex nature of regeneration projects and planning legislation.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet Member agreed:

1. To approve the appointment of an Independent Tenant and Leaseholder Advisory Services framework for a four-year period, in accordance with paragraph 6.12, for use in supporting regeneration and housing projects across Haringey, consisting of the following companies: -

a)    Micro fish Communications Ltd

b)    PPCR Associates Limited

c)    Newman Francis Limited

d)    Source Partnership Consulting Limited

Reasons for decision  ...  view the full minutes text for item 109