Purpose

Subject and the decision taken
 
The Wave Centre, Maryport is
included as part of Maryport Future High Street Funded programme of
works to be delivered by March 2024. The original business case
included an extension and construction of a swimming pool however
due to increasingly challenging operating costs the inclusion of a
swimming pool has been deemed unviable.
 
Cumberland Executive at the
meeting on 25th April 2023 agreed to consider
alternative proposals for the Wave Centre to ensure that the Future
High Street Fund investment is retained within Maryport and are now
seeking a consultant to explore options to enhance the existing
facilities, to promote the Centre as a destination and to support
the wider Future High Street Fund objectives to increase footfall
within the Town Centre.
 
This report seeks approval to
directly award a contract to Buttress architects to explore
potential redevelopment options for The Wave Centre in Maryport
through an exemption to the contract procedure rules.  Approximately £4.78 million of Future High
Street funding remains allocated to the Wave Centre
project.  The contract is for design
work and business cases for RIBA Stages 0-2, to a total cost of
£44,250.   
 

Content

Appointment of Consultant to Explore Potential
Redevelopment Options for the Wave Centre Maryport (Future High
Streets)

Reasons for the decision

Reason for
Decision
 
Buttress architects were appointed by
Allerdale Borough Council to progress the design work for the
project in 2022. This design work was complete and used to inform
the procurement of a design and build contractor. A competitive
procurement for a design and build contractor was undertaken in
Autumn 2022. The decision to award the design and build contract
was considered by Cumberland Council in April 2023.
 
Buttress architects have already undertaken a
substantial amount of the required design work for an extension to
the building. There is now a requirement to review the designs and
amend designs to reflect the change in priorities for Cumberland
Council, a consequence of Local Government Reorganisation.
 
To ensure continuity in design and to minimise
duplication of survey and design work, the project team have sought
an exemption to the Contract Procedure rules to allow the direct
appointment of Buttress architects. A competitive procurement
process would not guarantee the appointment of existing architects,
increase the delay to the project and duplicate the work undertaken
to date and increasing the cost of the project to Cumberland
Council (and funders DLUHC).
 

Alternative options considered

Summary of
options
 
The following options have been
considered:
 

§ 
Continue to progress the project and award a design contract to
seek alternative design options. The following procurement options
were considered:

a.    
Direct award to Buttress Architects via an exemption to Contract
Procedure Rules (preferred)

b.    
Direct award through a Framework agreement.
Buttress are not on an
existing framework with Cumberland Council, therefore this would
require Legal to review possible frameworks before the process
could commence. The timescales associated with this do not support
progress of the project and the constrained timescales for
delivery.

c.    
Open tender
This approach would not
guarantee the appointment of Buttress and the associated time and
cost savings associated with retaining the existing designer.
 

§ 
Do not continue with the project at the Wave and reallocate
funding to alternative projects in the existing Future High Street
Fund Programme.  Cumberland
Executive have agreed to consider alternative options. Not
progressing with the project would be contrary to Executive
decision. If Cumberland Council do not demonstrate progress against
this project, there is a high risk that the funding to the project
would be lost from the Future High Street Fund Programme. This
would impact negatively on the reputation of the Council with DLUCH
and impact on future funding opportunities.