Purpose

The procurement and award of a
contract to a skilled, experienced and qualified contractor is
required for the Walpole Coast Protection, Coping Replacement
project to be completed. The project is 100% grant funded capital
works to replace a dilapidated section of sea wall between Hodges
Gap and Newgate Gap. The estimated value of the contract will be
£1m.

Decision

Cabinet agreed:
 
1. 
The key decision to award a contract with
a value in excess of £250k, and up to the value of the
Environment Agency grant of £1,169,000 to the successful
bidder, following a procurement exercise for capital works to
replace a dilapidated section of sea wall between Hodges Gap and
Newgate Gap;
 
2. 
That the Director of Environment, having
sought advice from legal services, agrees to the final terms of any
contract award and signs the contract with the successful
bidder.

Reasons for the decision

A grant with a value of
£1.169m has been secured to undertake the construction phase
of the Walpole Coast Protection project. The project is 100% grant
funded and does not require additional funding from the
Council.
 
The construction scheme
objectives are to stabilise the existing sea wall structure and
replace some sections to ensure its continued serviceable life. The
absence of this project would eventually lead to a significant
reduction in protection afforded to the cliffs by the sea defences
to the point that the frontage would be undefended.

Alternative options considered

Cabinet considered whether it
should not approve expenditure on this project. This option was
dismissed on the basis that it would likely result in withdrawal of
the grant offer leading to a failure to deliver this capital scheme
and a continuation of the increasing flood and erosion risk at
Cliftonville.