The Officer Executive Decisions meeting scheduled for Monday 20 April 2026 was set to consider proposals for external fire safety remedial works. The primary focus was on the appointment of specialist consultants to undertake surveys and associated works, as well as to prepare for the subsequent remediation phases.

External Fire Safety Remedial Works Specialist Consultants

A key item on the agenda was the proposed award of contracts for external fire safety remedial works, detailed in the report OKD CED S705 External Fire Safety Remedial Works Specialist Consultants.pdf . The report outlined the need for specialist consultants to address fire safety issues in Hackney's high- and mid-rise buildings, in line with the requirements of the Building Safety Act 2022.

The report recommended the award of two contracts:

• One contract for services to Frankham Risk Management Services Limited via the Pretium Hyde Building & Fire Safety Framework, Lot 9D for a period of four years, with a total contract value of £7.8 million.
• A second contract for services to Airey Miller Limited via the Pretium Hyde Building & Fire Safety Framework, Lot 6 for a period of four years, also with a total contract value of £7.8 million.

These appointments are intended to enable Hackney Council to deliver necessary remediations and achieve compliance with current legislation. The scope of the contracts covers the external envelope of buildings, including external walls, voids, and fenestration. The report highlighted that these works are to be fully funded by the Cladding Safety Scheme (CSS) grant, with no recourse to Hackney Council's own budgets.

The report detailed that the decision to appoint two consultants was driven by the substantial volume of work and the need to distribute risk and mitigate fragmentation. Each consultant would be responsible for addressing half of Hackney's in-scope estate. The contracts are to be awarded on a call-off basis, with services drawn down over time.

The report also explained the reasons for the chosen procurement route, which involved direct awards through the Pretium Framework. This approach was selected due to the mandatory requirement to use CSS-approved consultants to secure government funding and the urgency to meet grant deadlines. Alternative options, such as in-house provision or undertaking an open tendering exercise, were considered and rejected. The report noted that the Building Safety Act 2022 introduced a stringent regulatory regime for Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs), defined as residential buildings at least 18 metres in height or with at least seven storeys, containing at least two residential units. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 further enhanced fire safety requirements.

The report indicated that the proposed contract awards align with Hackney Council's strategic priorities, including the Hackney Sustainable Community Strategy 2018-2028, the Sustainable Procurement Strategy 2018-2022, and the Housing Asset Management Strategy 2019-2027. It also mentioned that an equality impact assessment was not deemed necessary as the contract was not expected to negatively impact any protected groups. The selected providers are committed to implementing equal opportunities policies, considering local employment, and paying the London Living Wage.

Regarding sustainability, the consultants have committed to adopting Hackney's green policies and leading industry practices. They are also committed to social value contributions, including hiring apprentices and collaborating with Hackney's procurement team to maximise opportunities for local residents and suppliers. The report also addressed modern slavery, stating that the Hackney Council policy will be included as an addendum to the contract.

Consultations with leaseholders, tenants, resident liaison groups, elected representatives, and staff across the housing service were mentioned. The report stated that leaseholders would not face financial impact from the external wall fire risk assessments and subsequent remedial works, as these are fully funded by the CSS. Any additional works outside the scope of the fire risk assessment would be subject to consultation under the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.

The report also outlined risk assessments, including the potential for legal challenge due to direct awards, but noted this was mitigated by the collaboration with Homes England and the necessity of using their approved database. The financial implications of non-compliance with CSS requirements were highlighted, which would result in Hackney Council bearing all remediation costs. The urgency to meet the Cladding Safety Scheme's September 2029 deadline was also a significant factor.

The comments from the Group Director of Finance and Corporate Resources and the Director, Legal, Democratic & Electoral Services were included, confirming the financial strategy, the mandatory nature of the CSS grant funding, and the value for money achieved through leveraging Homes England's discounted rates. The legal comments noted the applicable procurement regime and the potential risk of a non-objective criteria for supplier selection, which was mitigated by the framework provider's confirmation. The report also referenced that the business case was approved by the Cabinet Procurement and Insourcing Committee (CPIC) on 7 July 2025, with delegated authority to the Group Director for Climate Homes and Economy for the award of these contracts, subject to CPIC noting a briefing note on 13 April 2026.