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 award of a contract to carry out bathroom pod replacement and external major works on Noel Park estate for 126 purpose built dwellings on Gladstone Avenue occupied by both tenants and leaseholders.

Councillor Chandwani 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 Ltd “Engie”, to carry out external major works on Noel Park estate for phase 2, a variation to the original contract award value and for the issue of a letter of intent to Engie, this will be for an amount up to, but not exceeding £1,012,644 which would enable detailed design work to be undertaken in advance of the contract being finalised.

The Leader advised that there was a typo in recommendation 3.1 of the report in that the value of the increase was £5,115,697 and not £5,116,697 as published in the papers.

The Leader made reference to paragraph 2.5 of the report and apologised to leaseholders for the quality of communication and engagement on the project and hoped that the revised proposals struck a balance of fairness to leaseholders and Council tenants.

The Leader and the Assistant Director for Housing responded to questions from the Cabinet and Councillor Barnes:

-           All contract costs were fixed.  The only way that costs would increase would be if more work was carried out.

-           Officers were confident that the programme was sensible and that timescales would be met.  However if there were any delays, these would be a matter of months and not years.

-           In regard to paragraph 8.11 of the report, it was not accepted that the Council or HfH had failed to carry out necessary repairs and maintenance to ensure resident safety. 

-           In regard to roof repairs, it was anticipated that a good number would need to have works carried out.  It made practical sense to carry out these works whilst the scaffolding was in situ, so surveys would be completed and approvals for works sought where required.

-           The lifespan of the new PODs would be minimum 60 years.

Further to considering exempt information at item 20 it was,

RESOLVED that Cabinet

1.         Approve a variation of the original Contract to Engie Regeneration Ltd by increasing the value from £16,342,419 to £21,458,116. This is an increase of £5,115,697 to enable the completion of Phase 2 works in accordance with Contract Standing Order (CSO) 10.2.1 (b).

2.         Note that of the original contract, £11,331,675 was approved for phase 1 by cabinet in January 2021.

3.         Approve the award of contract for Phase 2 of the works on the Noel Park Estate to Engie Regeneration Ltd up to the value of £10,286,961, inclusive of fees (£160,520), for the replacement of bathroom pod extensions in accordance with Contract Standing Order (CSO) 9.07.1 (d). This includes bathroom suites and associated works, 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, where required and for works in leaseholder owned properties to be completed in line with work detailed in the section  ...  view the full minutes text for item 588