Purpose

To seek approval to extend the existing Partnering Consultancy contracts to March 2030. The partnering consultants provide various construction related professional services on a adhoc basis. The disciplines included are Structural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Drainage and Flood Alleviation, CDM (Construction Design and Management) Principal Designer, Quantity Surveying and Clerk of Works.

Decision

Exempt Paragraph 3 – Information relating to financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information)

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

a) approves Option 3 as identified in section 6.9 of report HPS/055 extending the existing contracts until 31 March 2030.

b) delegates the negotiation, approval and completion of all relevant documentation, including legal paperwork, to the Head of Major Projects and Commercials Services, in consultation with the Head of Law & Governance and the Head of Corporate Finance

(Generic Delegations 2 & 3 will be used to enact this recommendation).

Reasons for the Recommendations

The partnering consultants provide essential specialist capacity and skills that are not readily available in?house.

The consultants are embedded within Council delivery teams and have detailed knowledge of council assets and processes.

Extending the contracts will provide continuity and stability for major capital, housing and compliance programmes.

The extension avoids procurement and mobilisation risk at a time of increased workload and Local Government Reorganisation.

The recommended option represents the most cost?effective and operationally efficient approach.

There is no additional budget request associated with this report. All costs identified are already allocated within existing capital and revenue budgets, and no virements are required. Any future project specific budget requests will include appropriate allowances for professional fees where required.