Issue - meetings

[Report of the Director for Housing, Regeneration and Planning. To be introduced by the Leader of the Council.]

To seek approval for the appointment of the successful contractor to undertake the installation of modular extension replacements and major works. These to be carried out to 117 dwellings in Farrant Avenue, Gladstone Avenue, Morley Avenue and Moselle Avenue.

(Councillor Ibrahim left the meeting for the consideration of this item).

The Leader introduced the report which sought approval for the award of a contract to Engie Regeneration Limited to carry out external major works on the Noel Park Estate.

The report set out the proposed works which would improve the housing conditions of the homes that had not yet benefitted from the Decent Homes programme on the Noel Park Estate and would include the replacement of the bathrooms, kitchens, windows, and roofs, and rewiring and safety works within the homes.

The work would be carried out in two phases. The recommendation in the report was to commence phase one of the works, which would involve renovations to the Council tenanted properties on the estate. Phase two would bring forward proposals to improve the condition of properties owned by leaseholders and in buildings containing both leaseholder owned and Council owned homes.

Officers responded to questions from Councillor Ogiehor:

-           The professional fees for a larger housing project, such as this, were standard for this type of work and covered areas such as legal fees, project management and onsite clerk of works. The AD for Housing offered to provide a breakdown of the costs relating to the professional fees in writing to Cllr Ogiehor.

-           There had been a lot of engagement with residents and it was made clear that this was now a good time to improve their homes. The level of responses did not impact on whether this was a good proposal to take forward.

-           There were changes in circumstances over the years with these proposals, including a significant change in the removal of asbestos with increased costs to ensure safety. Previous proposals had included turning kitchens into bathrooms and dining rooms into kitchens, but this was not taken forward as there would a significant reduction in living space.

-           The pilot project to remove 4 pods, completed in 2012, had not cost £25k per property as previously reported. When considering the detail of the overall costs, this had been £68k per property. Therefore, taking account build cost inflation over the years, the building costs for this project, and the overall cost per Pod were in line with expected costs for works concerning modular extensions.

-           New approach to the improvement works provided value for money and would update each property with new windows, roofs, and doors, as well as the modular extension.

Further to considering the exempt information at item 419,

RESOLVED

1.    Pursuant to the Council’s Contract Standing Order (CSO) 9.07.1 (d), for Cabinet to approve the award of contract for Phase 1 of the works on the Noel Park Estate to Engie Regeneration Limited for the replacement of bathroom pod extensions including bathroom suites and associated works, construction of kitchen extensions, renewal of kitchens, roof replacement and repairs, window and door replacement, rewiring, boiler replacement and central heating installation works, fire protection works, brickwork and concrete repairs and external decoration to tenanted properties  ...  view the full minutes text for item 411