Issue - meetings

Attached for consideration as part of the call-in on this item, is the Part 2 Portfolio Decision report considered as part of the decision made by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Housing Regeneration on 23 October 2017.

The report should be read in conjunction with the Cabinet report attached at Appendix 1 to the Call-In report on the Part 1 agenda.

(This document contains exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)) of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended).

The Committee received the information provided on the Post Tender Report for Brimsdown Avenue – Major Works Bathroom Replacement, Kitchen Refurbishment and External Enveloping which had been included in the part 2 section of the agenda.

NOTED

The information was considered in conjunction with the report on the part 1 agenda.

Councillor Smith set out the reasons for calling in the decision and spoke of the following:

• Concerns regarding the exact number of properties involved.  The Quantity Surveyor post tender report refers to 73 properties while the council report refers to 84 properties.
• Concerns regarding the financial stability and viability of the contractor to be awarded the contract, - given the low tender amount which can be an indication of financial difficulty.

Councillor Oykener, Cabinet Member for Housing and Housing Regeneration responded, and highlighted the following:

·         The contractor was engaged as a Framework contractor and a due tender process undertaken.  Due Diligence which included financial checks was carried out. 

·         There was no legitimate reason why the contract could not be awarded to the contractor.

Other issues highlighted included:

• The project includes works to 84 properties in total.  Works to all 84 include new kitchens, window renewals, external doors fascia/soffit boards rain water goods and general repairs.  From those 84, 73 properties would also be receiving a bathroom extension replacement.
• The departments’ experience with the contractor,  on contracts from 2014 are good. They have had positive outcomes and good resident satisfaction.
• Confirmation that there were no ‘up front’ costs involved – payment is made by invoice. If there are any reasons for concern in future it would be possible to work directly with the sub- contractor.
• There was discussion about the formula the Council uses for awarding contracts of price to customer satisfaction and some members would have liked to see the weighting higher for customer satisfaction. Councillor Oykener agreed to review the formula being used.

Following the discussion, the Committee took a vote on whether the decision should be confirmed.  Having considered the information provided, the committee voted to confirm the Portfolio decision.

Councillors Levy, Keazor, Dogan, Hurer and Jemal voted in favour of the decision. Councillor Vince voted against.