Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

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To receive any apologies for absence.

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The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of Urgent Business. (Late items of Urgent Business will be considered under the agenda item where they appear).

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In accordance with Contract Standing Orders 2.01.c and 0.08, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader) approved the award of a £653,684.47 contract to Tenderer A for Phase 1 of the Extensive Voids Programme. Five structurally compromised and uninhabitable properties had been identified for inclusion. The contract enabled immediate refurbishment works, aimed at reducing long-term voids and reintegrating the homes into the housing stock to address urgent demand from residents on the waiting list.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED:

3.1 Pursuant to Contract Standing Order (CSO) 2.01.c and CSO 0.08, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader) approved the award of contract to Tenderer A as set out in Appendix A - Exempt Report. The contract sum will have a total value of £653,684.47.

3.2 In consultation with the Director of Finance, approved the expenditure of sums as set out in Appendix A – Exempt Report. Page 1 Agenda Item 6 Page 2 of 9.

3.3 In line with Contract Standing Orders (CSO 16.04), approved issuance of a letter of intent for the value of £65,000.00. The Letter of Intent will allow the contractor to commence the project by placing orders with their supply chain before agreeing a formal contract.

Reasons for decision

The decision to award this contract is based on several critical factors:

4.1 Structural and Safety Concerns The Council has identified several long-term void properties that have remained vacant due to significant structural and other works which have contributed to the failure of these properties to meet current housing standards. These unoccupied homes represent a significant loss in potential housing supply at a time of acute need, and their continued absence from the active stock places additional strain on temporary accommodation resources. To address this issue, immediate action is required to bring these properties back into use. Refurbishing these properties not only reduces the number of voids but also helps to alleviate demand pressures, providing much-needed housing for residents currently on the waiting list.

4.2 Need for Fire Safety Upgrades Several of these properties also require essential fire safety upgrades, including new fire doors, smoke detection systems, compartmentation and other improvements. These works are necessary to ensure compliance with current fire safety regulations and to protect future tenants.

4.3 Energy Efficiency Improvements The project supports the Council’s commitment to becoming a net-zero carbon borough by 2041. Energy efficiency improvements—such as insulation, window and door replacements, and heating system upgrades—will reduce carbon emissions, lower energy bills for tenants, and contribute to the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan and Affordable Energy Strategy. Therefore, where possible, these work elements will also be included in the PH1 Extensive Voids Programme.

4.4 Minimising Future Costs Through targeted refurbishment under this programme, the Council will proactively safeguard its housing stock from further deterioration. Delaying action risks compounding repair needs, which will escalate costs over time and erode asset value. Moreover, early intervention offers tangible cost savings. Maintaining vacant units incurs ongoing expenses, including security, inspections, and utilities. When paired with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

In accordance with Contract Standing Order 2.01.c, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader) approved a £1,030,581.00 contract award to Tenderer A for Phase 2 of the Extensive Voids Programme. Five uninhabitable properties with major structural defects had been identified for refurbishment, including loft conversions in two homes to increase bedroom capacity. The works aimed to return the properties to use, expand housing options for larger families, and ease overcrowding—ultimately boosting the Council’s housing supply.

It was RESOLVED the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader):

3.1 Pursuant to Contract Standing Order (CSO) 2.01.c approved the award of contract to Tenderer A as set out in Appendix A - Exempt Report. The contract sum will have a total value of £1,030,581.00.

3.2 In consultation with the Director of Finance, approved the expenditure of sums set out in Appendix A – Exempt Report. The proposed works for the Phase 2 Extensive Voids Programme, has a total estimated value of £1,030,581.00 for five currently unoccupied properties. The works will be funded from the approved Major Works Capital Programme, as they relate to the structural refurbishment and reinstatement of housing assets. The costs are expected to be contained within the existing Major Works budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). Provided there is no cost escalation beyond the estimated cost, there is no or minimal financial pressure on the current year’s capital budget. A portion of spend will slip into the following financial year. £530,581.00 has been allocated to be spent in 26/27 to complete the works and manage end-of-year defects.

3.3 In line with Contract Standing Orders (CSO 16.04), approved issuance of a letter of intent for the value of £103,058.00. The Letter of Intent will allow the contractor to commence the project by placing orders with their supply chain before agreeing a formal contract.

Reasons for decision

The decision to award this contract is based on several critical factors:

4.1 Structural and Safety Concerns The Council has identified several long-term void properties that have remained vacant due to significant structural and other works which have contributed to the failure of these properties to meet current housing standards. These unoccupied homes represent a significant loss in potential housing supply and rental income at a time of acute need, and their continued absence from the active housing stock places additional strain on temporary accommodation. To address these issues, immediate action is required to bring these properties back into use. Refurbishing these properties not only reduces the number of voids but will also help to alleviate demand pressures, providing much-needed housing for residents awaiting permanent housing. The works are not only necessary to bring these properties back into use but also represent a proactive investment in the Council’s housing stock. These properties will also address overcrowding by increasing the number of bedrooms in two of the properties, making the homes suitable for larger families on the housing waiting list.

4.2 Need for Fire Safety Upgrades Several of these properties also require essential  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

In line with Contract Standing Order 0.08, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader) approved the award of a £1,514,644 contract to Contractor A for external major works on the Turner Avenue Estate. This ensured all homes received Decent Homes Standard improvements consistent with borough-wide programmes.

Following the termination of the original contractor due to non-performance, a waiver of CSOs 12.01 and 12.02 was also approved to allow a direct award to Contractor A. This enabled completion of partially started works and full delivery across the estate.

The Cabinet Member acknowledged industry-wide increases in construction and labour costs since the original tender, agreeing that these additional costs would not be passed on to leaseholders. Professional fees of £81,456 (5.377% of the contract sum) were approved, bringing the total project cost to £1,596,100.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED:

2.1 The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader) approved the award of contract to Contractor A in the sum of £1,514,644. Contractor details identified in Appendix A - Exempt Report for the installation of flat roof covering, windows, curtain walling to stairwells, external brickwork and concrete repairs, communal internal and external decorations.

2.2 The Cabinet Member for Housing and planning (Deputy Leader) approved the total professional fees of £81,456 which represents 5.377% of the contract sum. And notes the total project cost of £1,596,100

2.3 The Cabinet Member, for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader) in line with CSO 0.08 and CSO 16.04 approved the issue of a Letter of Intent in the sum of £151,464.00. The value of the Letter of Intent represents 10% of the contract sum.

2.4 The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader) approved the issue of a waiver by waiving off CSO 12.03 to direct award of contract to the preferred contractor. The basis for seeking a direct award is that contractor A is not on an applicable framework through which a direct award can be made. It will overcome the logistics of having two contractors on the same site and enable incomplete and outstanding works to be delivered.

2.5 The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader) approved that any increased costs associated with completing the outstanding works under this tender will not be passed on to leaseholders. The original contract pricing will remain in effect, except where the scope of work in the new contract is reduced.

Reasons for decision

3.1 Haringey Council requires the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader) approval to award the contract for incomplete and outstanding works for flat roof covering, windows, external brickwork and concrete repairs, curtain walling and communal internal and external decorations to the Turner Avenue Estate. This will ensure all properties on the estate are brought up to Decent Homes Standard

3.2 The original contract was awarded under the JCT Intermediate Building Contract with Contractor’s Design 2016. Following the termination of that contract due to non-performance, a direct award is now proposed to Contractor A to ensure continuity and timely  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

Item XX is likely to be subject to a motion to exclude the press and public be from the meeting as it/they contains exempt information as defined in Section 100a of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by Section 12A of the Local Government Act 1985); paras 3 and 5, namely information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

RESOLVED:

The Cabinet Member considered the exempt information.

RESOLVED:

The Cabinet Member considered the exempt information.

RESOLVED:

The Cabinet Member considered the exempt information.