Agenda item

Haringey commissioned a Health Check of Compliance in December 2022 which recommended significant requirements around improving compliance management. It also identified key inspection programmes regarding supplies under the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres (DSEAR) Regulations 2002. The provision of this service would help to support the Mechanical & Electrical teams to deliver these programmes. Although being managed this will also help mitigate any risk to the organisation in ensuring quality of installations and value for money from contractors.

It was noted that to help manage spends, the team have profiled expenditure and received support from finance and procurement; on the basis of £1,000,000 per year over five years. The contract value of £5,000,000 includes an allowance for support in other areas to use this contract where there is an additional technical support need.

Recommendations

RESOLVED

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning was recommended to:

1. To approve the award to Bidder A of a contract, and associated expenditure, for the provision of technical audits and quality assurance of regulatory safety inspections and support for in-house teams and contractors on repairs, maintenance, design and installation of mechanical and electrical services and safety systems within Haringey’s Council Housing stock.

2. The contract would also allow for advice, guidance and expertise on standards and specifications for Haringey’s Employers Requirements, for new developments, major works and where required, corporate buildings.

3. The approval shall be provisional subject next stage S20 Leasehold consultation process and it shall be delegated to the Assistant Director for Repairs & Compliance to implement the award on completion of the S20 consultation, providing that all representations are suitably responded to and do not result in any significant issues, causing the award to be withdrawn or significantly amended, under which circumstances a revised report would be presented.

4. The contract would run for five (5) years, subject to determination under the break clause, allowing Haringey to withdraw from the contract for reasons including continued and unresolved poor performance, and/or where all services can successfully be delivered through in-house expertise and resources.

5. The contract would be on a call-off basis for a contract value of up to £5,000,000.00, plus inflation, with a proposed start date immediately on completion of the S20 process and any stand-still period; using Haringey’s standard consultancy agreement. All instructions would be made within available budgets across revenue and capital as appropriate.

6. To allow for and delegate to the Director of Housing for the provision of a letter of intent if required, prior to the formal contract being executed if required.

Alternative options considered

1. Do nothing. This would mean that we are unable to undertake significant surveys to determine the condition and forward investment requirements and produce investment programmes for key building services systems that enable our residents enjoy their homes and live safely and securely in them and/or provide assurances to senior leadership, Cabinet and our Regulators that Haringey’s safety inspections programmes are robust and fully compliant.

2. Extend the current contract. This was not an option as there was no existing contract.

3. Undertake all the work in-house. This option was not currently viable due to the current lack of specialist skills available in the market for Haringey to recruit and retain.