Agenda item

The report sought approval to directly award a contract, valued at £670,000.00. The contract will deliver upgrades to 75 homes on the Broadwater Farm Estate, to include the replacement of 39 kitchens and 63 bathrooms.

The work would be complete this financial year.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED 

1. In line with Contract Standing Order (CSO) 16.02, to approve the award of a contract to Contractor A (as set out in Appendix 1, the exempt report) to the value of £670,000.00 for the refurbishment of kitchens and bathrooms on the Broadwater Farm Estate.

2. To approve a provisional sum to enable un-surveyed properties to be included in the programme. The value of the provisional sum is detailed in Appendix 1 (the exempt report).

3. To agree to the appointment of Ridge and Partners LLP to act as Principal Designer and Cost Consultant. The charging rates are detailed in Appendix 1 (the exempt report).

Reasons for decision 

The project will deliver upgrades to 75 homes, delivering a total of 39 new kitchens and 63 bathrooms to properties on the Broadwater Farm Estate. The works would ensure residents had new modern facilities, including mobility showers for tenants who have been assessed by Haringey’s Occupational Therapist. Works would also include new smoke alarms and heat detectors, along with fire doors to kitchens, new flooring, tiling and redecorations.

To directly award the contract using the London Housing Consortium (LHC) Framework for the refurbishment of kitchens and bathrooms. The project would be let under a JCT Minor Works Building Contract with Contractor’s Design 2016 Edition (JCT MWD 2016). The process has been overseen and approved by Procurement, the Council’s Commercial and Contracts officers and the London Housing Consortium (LHC).

Alternative options considered

Do nothing

This option was not possible, as recent surveys found that the kitchens and/or bathrooms to 75 properties on the Broadwater Farm Estate fail the Decent Homes standard and ware in need of replacement.

Defer the project and include in the major refurbishment programme

This was considered and discounted, as the pilot refurbishment programme was not due to start until summer of 2023 and will only include works to Rochford and Martlesham. Works to other blocks have yet to be scoped and programmed – which based on current estimates, are unlikely to start before 2025, with a delivery programme of 5–7-years. If the kitchen and bathroom programme was deferred for a further 5-7- years, properties which are currently failing Haringey’s standards, would likely fall into disrepair, resulting in further costs to the Council. It should also be noted that replacing the kitchens and bathrooms under this current programme would not result in abortive works when the major refurbishment starts. This was because the refurbishment programme will focus on the external and communal parts of the estate, therefore kitchens and bathrooms which are refurbished now, would not be removed, or replaced later.

The only viable option was therefore to appoint a main contractor to deliver a standalone kitchen and bathroom programme using the LHC Framework. This approach will not only minimise costs associated with appointing an external consultant to prepare tender documents and manage the tender process, but would also reduce the time allowed for open tendering and thus enable the works to start and complete within the current financial year.

The rates submitted by the main contractor for the works is reflective of their 2019/20 tender bid to the LHC Framework. This provided cost certainty to the Council and protected against the current cost increase in labour and materials.