Issue - meetings

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST MADE FOR THIS ITEM:

None

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader):

1.    Approved the variation of the contract for the provision of refurbishment works at void properties in the area of Haringey between the Council and D C K Construction Limited, as outlined in the Exempt Report (Appendix One), in accordance with the Council’s Contract Standing Orders (CSOs) 18.03.3, 2.01(d) and 0.08.

Reasons for decisions

As noted in the original Lead Member contract decision paper, Haringey Council was forecasting a significant expansion in the number of properties acquired for onward lease to the HCBS that would require void works.

In total, it was expected that a very significant number of properties would require void works over the following two years.

An initial assessment of the required works to HCBS properties indicated that an uplift in the value of the contract was required to carry out the necessary improvements that would result in the properties reaching a habitable standard.

Alternative options considered

The primary alternative to the proposed contract uplift would have been for the contract not to deliver the required works or to reduce the number of void properties within the scope of the contract, specifically in relation to recently acquired HCBS properties. This was judged to be unviable, as failure to carry out these required, essential works would have left the properties uninhabitable and vacant. This would have resulted in the Council incurring significant costs, with prospective households continuing to reside in more expensive private sector accommodation. It would also have left Haringey Council in possession of vacant properties in a deteriorating condition. Additional expenditure would have been incurred due to the need to secure these properties and prevent squatting or other damage.

A secondary alternative, as outlined in the original Lead Member decision paper, would have been for the Council’s in-house team to deliver the additional works. However, as previously noted, the Council was forecasting a significant increase in the number of properties requiring void works over the following two years. These voids would have required rapid, specialist work to allow them to be let to Haringey residents. This was a time?dependent priority, given that, like most local authorities, Haringey was facing acute housing need from homeless households and a requirement to reduce Council spending on expensive private rented sector accommodation for residents who had presented as homeless. Additional capacity, through the required contract uplift, was therefore needed to deliver these works in a timely manner.

Consequently, it was concluded that existing Council services would have benefited from additional support through a short?term void works contract. To facilitate this aim, an additional contract uplift was required.

The Head of Design Quality & Acquisitions introduced the report. The rationale for the report was outlined.

It was explained that there was a need to ask for a contract uplift to the previously agreed contract in order to to complete additional voids work.

It was stressed that the contractor would have capacity to undertake the works required.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader):

1.    Approved the variation of the contract for the provision of refurbishment works at void properties in the area of Haringey between the Council and D C K Construction Limited, as outlined in the Exempt Report (Appendix One), in accordance with the Council’s Contract Standing Orders (CSOs) 18.03.3, 2.01(d) and 0.08.

Reasons for decisions

As noted in the original Lead Member contract decision paper, Haringey Council was forecasting a significant expansion in the number of properties acquired for onward lease to the HCBS that would require void works.

In total, it was expected that a very significant number of properties would require void works over the following two years.

An initial assessment of the required works to HCBS properties indicated that an uplift in the value of the contract was required to carry out the necessary improvements that would result in the properties reaching a habitable standard.

Alternative options considered

The primary alternative to the proposed contract uplift would have been for the contract not to deliver the required works or to reduce the number of void properties within the scope of the contract, specifically in relation to recently acquired HCBS properties. This was judged to be unviable, as failure to carry out these required, essential works would have left the properties uninhabitable and vacant. This would have resulted in the Council incurring significant costs, with prospective households continuing to reside in more expensive private sector accommodation. It would also have left Haringey Council in possession of vacant properties in a deteriorating condition. Additional expenditure would have been incurred due to the need to secure these properties and prevent squatting or other damage.

A secondary alternative, as outlined in the original Lead Member decision paper, would have been for the Council’s in-house team to deliver the additional works. However, as previously noted, the Council was forecasting a significant increase in the number of properties requiring void works over the following two years. These voids would have required rapid, specialist work to allow them to be let to Haringey residents. This was a time?dependent priority, given that, like most local authorities, Haringey was facing acute housing need from homeless households and a requirement to reduce Council spending on expensive private rented sector accommodation for residents who had presented as homeless. Additional capacity, through the required contract uplift, was therefore needed to deliver these works in a timely manner.

Consequently, it was concluded that existing Council services would have benefited from additional support through a short?term void works contract. To facilitate this aim, an additional contract uplift was required.