Purpose

To support the production of a Local Plan, an updated evidence base is required.
Approval for a number of exemptions to the Council's financial procedure rules for the procurement of consultancy services to support the preparation and delivery of the Wyre Local Plan was previously considered by the Portfolio Holder and delegated responsibility to seek.
3.1 That the Resources Portfolio Holder delegates authority to the Corporate Director Communities to allow for the appointment of consultants under the exemption to Contract Procedures contained within the Financial Regulations and Financial Procedure Rules, on whichever of the following grounds is most applicable to the individual procurements that:
3.1.1 if a framework agreement is available that necessitates the council not having to go out to tender and where the goods, works and services will still provide the council with best value for money.
3.1.2 the goods, works or services are of a specialised nature carried out by only one or a limited number of firms with no reasonable satisfactory alternative available.
3.1.3 tenders are invited on behalf of any consortium or collaboration, of which the council is a member, in accordance with any method adopted by that body.

Decision

To appoint SCP Transport via a framework agreement to undertake site specific highway feasibility assessment to support the emerging Wyre Local Plan.

Alternative options considered

An open tendering exercise was considered and rejected due to the additional time it would take which would not offer a satisfactory alternative without additional work being necessary at additional cost and time.