Decision

Authority granted to waive Contract Standing Orders and appoint New Street Consulting to provide an Interim Operational Change Lead / Interim Group Head of Landlord Services. The appointment is based on a rate of £812 per day plus VAT, with an anticipated six-month contract value of £107,184 plus VAT.

Reasons for the decision

There is an urgent requirement to secure specialist interim leadership support for the Landlord Services function to ensure continued delivery of critical housing compliance and safety responsibilities and to support the council’s improvement and recovery programme. The role is required to strengthen leadership, oversight and assurance across landlord compliance and safety functions, support delivery of the Housing Compliance Improvement Plan and ensure the council meets its legal and regulatory responsibilities as a social landlord. Delaying the appointment would increase the risk of non-compliance, regulatory challenge, tenant safety issues and reputational damage.

Alternative options considered

A full procurement process was considered but rejected because it would introduce delays at a critical stage of the council’s improvement programme and create gaps in compliance oversight. The proposed rates were benchmarked against market rates and three agencies were approached to provide suitable candidates, with a preferred candidate selected following interviews by a panel of three officers.