Content

To
agree the appointment of Herringbone Restoration Ltd to undertake
role of Principal Contractor to complete church wall repairs under
the guidance of heritage schedule of works to the sum of
£193,127.00
 
The
Council assumed responsibility for the safe and effective
management of the church land as determined in law when the
Parochial Parish Council declared the churchyard closed to future
burials many years ago.
 
A
local resident recently raised a safety risk regarding a crumbling
wall.  FDC commissioned an assessment of
the walls and found that the entire Church wall needed addressing
as a H&S concern. The funding of such work falls on the local
authority, despite the Church retaining ownership of the
wall.
 
The project delivery has been
undertaken in compliance with Council’s Code of Procurement
and was subject to a competitive national tender exercise, of which
4 contractors were scored.
 
This work is specialist
conservation works and not the remediation of modern standard
brick-built wall – hence the high cost.
 
Decision:
The Portfolio Holder for
Community Safety, Military Covenant, Policing, Emergency Planning,
Cemeteries, Traveller Site Pitch, Street Pride, Street Naming &
Numbering, Safety Advisory Group and Freedom Leisure to approve
appointment of Herringbone Restoration Ltd to repair the St Andrews
church walls in Whittlesey to the value of
£193,127.00.
 

Reasons for the decision

A condition survey of the wall
was undertaken highlighting risk of failure.
 
The Council’s Code of
Procurement detailed that a national competitive tender would be
required instead of a direct award. This was done and 4 contractors
were scored with Herringbone winning this exercise.
 
The neighbour resident who
originally raised the safety complaint is being kept informed
during the process.
 

Alternative options considered

The front roadside wall was
previously repaired due to the risk of collapse onto the public
pathway used by the children at the local school. The remainder of
the repairs were originally planned to be reviewed with the 2026/27
budget, but the poor state of the wall and risk identified has
meant this was brought.