Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Children’s Services. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Families.

The award of a construction contract to the preferred bidder for the Wood Green Youth Hub main fit out works. This report will inform Cabinet of the procurement process completed to appoint a contractor. The report will also update Cabinet on progress to date, the design development and co-design programme, the programme milestones and the project budget.

Cllr Diakides left the meeting at 19.55.

The Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Families introduced the report which sought authority to award a construction contract to Diamond Build Plc for the delivery of the Wood Green Youth Hub fit out works. The contract allowed the project to move closer to the operational opening of the facility.

The Cabinet Member outlined that the facility would create a focal point for young people in the community, allowing the young people to develop practical skillsets, promote creativity, provide a safe space for socialising and to obtain advice and support.

It was noted that Wood Green Young Voices (WGYV) had played a major role in design development, with a full Co-Design programme being completed in conjunction with the development of RIBA design stages 1 – 4 (feasibility to detailed design). The Cabinet Member advised that it had been incredibly important to ensure the users of the facility have had the ability to shape the project to ensure their needs are met.

The Cabinet Member commented that the project had progressed well and was ready to move into the next stage of project delivery to allow the physical works to commence on site. This would allow the operational opening of the facility to be completed ahead of the 2022 school summer holidays.

There was a question from Cllr Hakata on the risk of the Youth Hub not being ready for opening in July 2022. In response, it was noted that there could be issues with the current volatility in the building works market, and risk associated with delivery construction contracts. To mitigate this delay, the Capital Works team would be placing orders for materials as soon as possible. The team would also continue to monitor risks. There had already been some works to remove cross contamination at the premises and also fire safety issues addressed to contain some of the risks.

Following consideration of exempt information at item 26:

RESOLVED

1.           

2.           

3.           

1.          To approve an award of contract to Diamond Build Plc for the sum of £1,069,792.00 in accordance with Contract Standing Order (CSO) 9.07.1(d).

2.          To approve the issue of a letter of intent to Diamond Build Plc, which will be limited to £100,000.

1. 

Reasons for decision

6. 

Young people living or attending school in and around Wood Green are at risk. Noel Park is in the 10% of the most deprived areas nationally with young people disproportionately affected. They are at risk of gang and knife crime with impacts felt across families and communities. Some of the Local Authority’s highest Early Help referring schools are in the west of the borough, with many pupils living in the Noel Park ward. Haringey has been working with a range of community partners and the police to embed measures to tackle issues early.

In addition to pre-existing challenges in Wood Green, young people have been disproportionately affected by the Covid 19 crisis through parental job losses and school closures. The project  ...  view the full minutes text for item 705