Issue - meetings

This report updates the Cabinet, following an OJEU procurement process and recommends the appointment of a contractor to construct the proposed Centre. The report further recommends approval to proceed to the next stage in which the Council will enter into a pre-construction agreement with the preferred contractor, whereby the contractor will be asked to complete a full design and provide a firm price for the building works.

Note: The press and public may be excluded from the meeting during part of the consideration of this item.

RESOLVED

(1)  That, having regard to the revised Return on Investment, £140,000 be released from the approved budget to allow the project to proceed to the next stage.

(2)  That a pre-construction agreement be entered into with the preferred contractor, contractor A, to complete the design and provide a fixed price for construction.

(3)  Following the contractor providing the Council with a detailed fixed price, and subject to the total project costs being within the budget approved by Council, that the Head of Commercial Services be authorised, after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Commercial Services, to conclude a design & build contract with contractor A.

Further to minute 19 of 7 July 2015, the Cabinet considered the report (copy attached to the official minutes) and exempt appendix circulated with the agenda.

Mrs Keegan introduced the report, and reminded the Cabinet of the previous history of this project. The architect and design team had been appointed, planning permission had been granted and a design and build EU procurement process had been carried out. The Cabinet was now being asked to appoint a preferred contractor and release funding from the approved budget to enable the contractor and design team to develop the detailed design and report a fixed build price. If that final build cost, together with the expenditure to date, was within the approved budget as expected, delegated authority was sought to enter into the contract.

The Chairman welcomed the progress and pointed out that the project offered a very healthy return on investment, especially given the element of guaranteed income. The scheme was well-sited adjacent to a key junction on the A27 trunk road, and was important for job creation.

RESOLVED

(1)  That, having regard to the revised Return on Investment, £140,000 be released from the approved budget to allow the project to proceed to the next stage.

(2)  That a pre-construction agreement be entered into with the preferred contractor, contractor A, to complete the design and provide a fixed price for construction.

(3)  Following the contractor providing the Council with a detailed fixed price, and subject to the total project costs being within the budget approved by Council, that the Head of Commercial Services be authorised, after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Commercial Services, to conclude a design & build contract with contractor A.