Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources (S151 Officer. To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Housing & Planning (Deputy Leader)

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST RELATING TO THIS ITEM:

None

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approved the commencement of a procurement in accordance with CSO?2.01(b) to appoint a panel of external property professionals to deliver valuations, valuation advice, and technical and structural surveys for up to a three?year term from Quarter?3 of 2026/27 to Quarter?3 of 2029/30, with the option to extend by up to 24?months.

2.    Delegated authority to the Cabinet Member for Housing, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources, to award the contract(s) to the most economically advantageous bidder(s) following a compliant process, provided the award(s) were within the approved budget envelope set out in the exempt report.

3.    Authorised the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources to issue and execute any ancillary documents and implement the contract(s), including exercising options within the contract term.

Reasons for decision:

The current valuers’ contract was expiring and did not cover the full range of services and geographies required. The Acquisitions Programme was scaling to approximately 250 acquisitions per annum for the foreseeable future, requiring a comprehensive and flexible professional support model capable of handling both routine street?property acquisitions and complex block transactions, including mixed?use and S106 units.

Alternative options considered:

Do nothing: This option was discounted as it would have created a critical gap in due?diligence capacity and risked programme slippage and sub?optimal value.

Extend the current arrangement: This option was discounted because the current valuers’ scope was too narrow for the expanding needs of the programme, lacking flexibility for block acquisitions and out?of?borough coverage, and not providing sufficient capacity.

Deliver the work in?house only: This option was discounted as there was insufficient internal capacity and specialist expertise to meet the volume and complexity of the acquisitions programme.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, and Deputy Leader of the Council introduced the report.

It was explained by the Cabinet Member that the Council’s aimed to support the development of a fairer and greener borough. London faced a housing crisis, with increasing numbers of residents unable to afford private rents or home ownership.

To help address this, The Cabinet Member explained that Haringey delivered more than 1,000 new council homes from 2020 onwards and had a further 2,000 under construction. The council remained on track to deliver 3,000 homes by 2031. Funding from the Mayor of London and central government supported the delivery of additional social and affordable housing for residents. Alongside the scale of delivery, the Council placed emphasis on the quality of new homes. Properties were designed to meet durability, insulation and design standards, with a mix of family and single?person accommodation. Homes were developed to be energy efficient, supporting both affordability of rent and ongoing running costs.

It was explained that the Council also acquired existing homes where appropriate and let them at council rents. Purchases were assessed to ensure value for money and that properties met minimum quality standards. Independent advisers were engaged to provide assurance on purchase prices and value for money, and to undertake structural and safety surveys on acquired properties. It was noted that the Council aimed to continue to expand the supply of affordable housing within the borough to support residents in accessing housing at council rents.

Following questions from Councillors Cawley-Harrison, the following information was shared:

• It was explained by officers that there was an in-house team reviewing acquisitions. There was a priority to acquire and build homes to reduce the pressure on housing in the borough and help alleviate the spend on temporary accommodation. It was stressed that there also needed to be, and the Council would seek, independent advice on transactions of this nature.
  
  
• It was explained that the Council would continually work with partners with a cross London expertise.
  
  
• It was stressed that the organisations that would be worked with by the Council would have professional indemnity and that there was recourse for if accurate advice was not received by the Council.
  
  
• It was explained that valuation would be quality assured by external independent advisors to ensure high quality appropriate cost.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approved the commencement of a procurement in accordance with CSO?2.01(b) to appoint a panel of external property professionals to deliver valuations, valuation advice, and technical and structural surveys for up to a three?year term from Quarter?3 of 2026/27 to Quarter?3 of 2029/30, with the option to extend by up to 24?months.

2.    Delegated authority to the Cabinet Member for Housing, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources, to award the contract(s) to the most economically advantageous bidder(s) following a compliant process, provided the award(s) were within the approved budget envelope set out in the exempt report.

3.    Authorised the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources to issue and execute any ancillary documents and implement the contract(s), including exercising options within the contract term.

Reasons for decision:

The current valuers’ contract was expiring and did not cover the full range of services and geographies required. The Acquisitions Programme was scaling to approximately 250 acquisitions per annum for the foreseeable future, requiring a comprehensive and flexible professional support model capable of handling both routine street?property acquisitions and complex block transactions, including mixed?use and S106 units.

Alternative options considered:

Do nothing: This option was discounted as it would have created a critical gap in due?diligence capacity and risked programme slippage and sub?optimal value.

Extend the current arrangement: This option was discounted because the current valuers’ scope was too narrow for the expanding needs of the programme, lacking flexibility for block acquisitions and out?of?borough coverage, and not providing sufficient capacity.

Deliver the work in?house only: This option was discounted as there was insufficient internal capacity and specialist expertise to meet the volume and complexity of the acquisitions programme.