Purpose

Reason: Four agencies were approached through
the CCS Framework to supply candidates; two agencies provided
candidates. Venn Group’s candidates were more suitable and
offered lower hourly rates, so two candidates were appointed from
Venn Group. It has since become clear that an additional candidate
is required to complete the volume of surveys, therefore Venn Group
will supply one more candidate.

Decision

Decision: Appointment of an additional
full-time stock condition surveyor as an agency worker through Venn
Group via the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Framework, to support
completion of the remaining approximately 1,100 stock condition
surveys for Council Housing stock.
Venn Group will supply one agency surveyor who successfully
completed interviews with DBC officers and passed the relevant DBC
checks. The estimated cost, including agency fees, expenses, and
VAT for 18 weeks, is £47,804. This is in addition ,to the two
current roles provided by Venn Group through the CCS Framework,
totalling £180,221.

Alternative options considered

A commitment was made to Regulator of Social
Housing to achieve 100% stock condition surveys by end of March
2026 and employing agency surveyors within the Council, rather than
using an outsourced company, is providing more opportunity to
improve access rates.