PART I
(OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)
ITEM NO.
REPORT OF HEAD OF HOUSING SERVICES
TO Lead Member for Customer and Support Services – 19th December 2005
TITLE : Exception to Contractual Standing Orders – Alpha Street / Spring Gardens
Community Garden, Seedley and Langworthy.
RECOMMENDATIONS :
That Lead Member approves the waiving of contractual standing orders in relation to the
appointment of a preferred contractor to undertake the provision of the internal landscape
works to the above community garden.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY :
The waiving of contractual standing orders will allow Urban Vision Ltd, following negotiation,
to enter into an “exchange of letters” contract with Groundwork Landscapes Ltd to undertake
the final stage in the development of the Alpha Street / Spring Gardens community garden
i.e. the completion of the internal landscape works. The estimated cost of these works is
£17,000.00 (incl fees).
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS :
(Not available for public inspection)
The relevant documents contain exempt or confidential information by virtue of paragraph 9
Part 1 of the Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and are not available for
public inspection.
ASSESSMENT OF RISK :
LOW – the scheme is the community’s preferred option for the redevelopment of the site and
will provide a safe, secure and landscaped green space for use by the residents of both
Alpha Street and Spring Gardens. Failure to progress the scheme will impact on the ability
to achieve 2005 – 2006 forecast spend.
SOURCES OF FUNDING :
Private Sector Housing Capital Programme 2005 – 2006.
COMMENTS OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER AND SUPPORT
SERVICES (or his representative)
1. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
Provided by :
Paul Scott ext 3051
2. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Provided by
Nigel Dickens ext 2585
CONTACT OFFICER :
Terry McBride 212 4476
KEY COUNCIL POLICIES : Housing, Regeneration
1.0 Details.
1.1
The property at 1 Alpha Street, Seedley and Langworthy, was acquired by the
City Council on 28th March 2000. Following inspection of the property it was agreed that the
most satisfactory action for dealing with the unsatisfactory condition was to demolish.
1.2
Resident consultation on the future use of the derelict site informed the Living
Environment Team that the community’s preferred use of the site would be the provision of a
community garden that could be located within the proposed alleygating scheme.
1.3
A community garden will enhance the property improvements already undertaken
within the Langworthy North neighbourhood and provide a secure, safe and landscaped
green space for use by residents of both Alpha Street and Spring Gardens, 63 households in
total.
1.4
Provision for the demolition of the property and the building of the community
garden boundary wall was made within the budget for the Langworthy North Enveloping
contract. The demolition of the building was carried out on 1st July 2004 and work to
construct the boundary wall and alleygating scheme has recently been completed by
Groundwork Landscapes Ltd as the first phase.
1.5
To complete the scheme it is now necessary to commence the negotiation
process for the internal landscaping works to the garden area with the original contractor.
2
Contract Approach.
2.1
The City Council has recently entered into a Partnering arrangement for the
provision of all value landscaping works. The partner contractors are Horticon and Casey’s.
However, the wall to the community garden was recently completed by Groundwork
Landscapes Ltd and is still within the defects liability period
2.2
The negotiated approach to this contract is felt to be the most practical method to
complete the delivery of the scheme and ensure that there are no conflicts of responsibility
between contractors with regards to future work required to the wall to resolve any issues in
relation to defects and / or damage.
2.2
In order for the contract to be delivered in this way there is a need for the waiving
of contractual standing orders that require a minimum of three written quotations for
contracts with a value of below £20,000 but above £10,000.
2.3
Urban Vision Ltd have confirmed that they are satisfied that Groundwork
Landscapes Ltd offer value for money in terms of both quality of work and costs.
3
Financial Implications
Colleagues within the Landscape Design section of Urban Vision Ltd have estimated the
costs for the internal works to be approximately £. £17,000.00 (incl fees). Provision exists
within the Environmental budget for Seedley and Langworthy, funded through the Housing
Private Sector Capital Programme 2005 - 2006.
4
Conclusion
That Lead Member approves the waiving of contractual standing orders in relation to the
appointment of a preferred contractor to undertake the provision of the internal landscape
works to the Alpha Street / Spring Gardens community garden.