In a meeting on Monday, Councillor Sarah Williams, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader), approved a contract for £962,244 with Tenderer A for major works to improve Fireman's Flats council housing. The works are intended to address subsidence, improve fire safety, and increase energy efficiency. A letter of intent for £96,224 was also approved to allow the contractor to begin the project.

Fireman's Flats Improvement Works

Councillor Sarah Williams approved the award of a contract to Tenderer A for £962,244 to carry out major improvement works at 1-8 Fireman's Flats, Glebe Road. The building has been experiencing subsidence, leading to structural cracking and safety concerns for residents. The works will include underpinning¹ and structural repairs, as well as fire safety upgrades, replacement of windows and doors, roof repairs, and external and communal area decorations.

The council also approved issuing a letter of intent for £96,224 to allow the contractor to begin the project by placing orders with their supply chain before a formal contract is agreed.

Reasons for the Decision

The decision to award the contract was based on several factors:

• Structural Integrity: The building has been experiencing severe subsidence for several years, compromising its structural integrity.
• Fire Safety: The building requires essential fire safety upgrades to meet current regulatory standards.
• Energy Efficiency: The works will include energy efficiency enhancements, such as upgrading doors, windows, and loft insulation, to reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills for residents, supporting the council's Climate Change Action Plan and Affordable Energy Strategy.
• Minimising Disruption: The works have been planned to minimise disruption to residents, with only a few dwellings being temporarily decanted.
• Competitive Tendering: Tenderer A was identified as the preferred contractor following a competitive tendering exercise through the London Construction Programme Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS).²

According to the Public Reports Pack, Tenderer A scored highest in the tender process, with 90.5%, based on cost, quality, and social value. The next closest bid was from Tenderer C, who scored 60.84%.

Leaseholder Implications

There are five leaseholder properties affected by the works. Under the terms of their lease, leaseholders are required to contribute towards the cost of maintaining the building's structure and common parts. The council issued Section 20 notices³ to leaseholders, consulting them on the proposed works.

The main issue raised by leaseholders was that they should not have to contribute to the cost of the underpinning works, as this should be claimed from the council's insurance company. The Homeownership team responded, informing leaseholders that they would not have to contribute to the cost of the underpinning works and structural repairs. The total amount estimated to be recovered from leaseholders for the proposed contract is £708,967.42, excluding the cost of underpinning and consequential repairs.

Alternative Options

The alternative option considered was to do nothing. However, Haringey Council has a responsibility for maintaining the integrity of its housing stock under the Housing Acts, and not undertaking the repairs would leave the council open to legal challenges.

Alignment with Strategic Goals

The project aligns with the council's Asset Management Strategy (2021), the Housing Asset Management Strategy (2023–2028), and the Corporate Delivery Plan (2023/24). It supports the Housing Strategy (2022) and aims to ensure all council homes meet the Decent Homes Standard⁴ by 2028. The project also aligns with the council's commitment to becoming a net-zero carbon borough by 2041 and addresses fuel poverty through energy efficiency upgrades.

Statutory Officer Comments

Strategic Procurement noted that the tender process was compliant with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and that Tenderer A's bid achieved value for money. The Director of Legal and Governance confirmed that there were no legal reasons preventing the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning from approving the recommendations in the report. The council also considered the equality impact of the decision and concluded that it was likely to have a neutral impact on equalities.