Issue - meetings

Members considered the report that sought Cabinet authority for the council to enter into two new contracts for works to its housing stock. The works included a five year term contract for the completion of external cyclical decorations as required, and the full refurbishment of passenger lifts in seven council owned residential blocks.

The external decorations contract would enable the delivery of a 5 year programme of repair and decoration. The works would include both cyclical external decorations to council owned residential properties and to the internal common parts of block of flats. The works planned for the coming 5 years had been valued at £1,028,895. Funding for this programme was included within the council’s approved medium term HRA revenue budget.

The lift programme would provide for the full refurbishment of the lifts listed in the report, ensuring that they had a further 25 years of use. The funding to complete the programme, estimated at £1.6m, was included within the HRA budget report, also on the agenda for this meeting, which was due to be considered at full council on 10 September 2020.

Councillor Everitt proposed, Councillor Duckworth seconded and Cabinet authorised the following:

1.  The letting of the contract for the refurbishment of seven passenger lifts, as detailed in the Cabinet report;

2.  The letting of a term contract for the completion of a programme of external cyclical decorations, as detailed in the Cabinet report.

Bob Porter, Director of Housing and Planning Services introduced the report and requested comments from the Panel. He made the following comments:

·  Council would like to let two contracts for refurbishment of passenger lifts and external works and decorations;

·  This was a key decision which Cabinet would like to get comments from the Panel before making a decision;

·  Funding for the projects was within the Housing Account (the revenue budget);

·  The lifts contract was a capital works contract funded from the major repairs reserves;

·  A separate report was going to the 30 July Cabinet to vary the HRA budget in order to accommodate these two contracts.

Members asked questions and made comments as follows:

·  Could Cabinet consider community wealth building principles when awarding contracts under procurement procedures;

·  Would CCTVs be refurbished as well in those buildings (the Tower Blocks)?

In response, the Leader of Council and Bob Porter responded as follows:

·  Cabinet will consider the community wealth building principles when awarding the contracts under the procurement procedures;

·  The contract to install upgraded CCTVs in the six tower blocks owned by the council was currently underway.

The Panel noted the report.