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.