Purpose

Decision: To approve the
appointment of Spetisbury Construction Ltd. Ltd. as the Main contractor for the
refurbishment of (Former) Bridport Connect Building, Flood Lane, Bridport.

Content

Key Decision:

Yes. (b)  Seen to be
significant in terms of its effects on communities living or working in an area
comprising two or more electoral wards in Dorset.

 

The demolition, ahead of later development, is in response
to anti-social behaviour linked to the abandoned building.

Reasons for the decision

There is a corporate requirement for the demolition of the
Bridport Connect Building, Flood Lane Bridport. The demolition is required to
clear the site for future development of the Bridport Gateway project.

The building has been the target for vandalism and a site
for rough sleeping. Therefore, the demolition of the building will also reduce
future risks to the Council and ready the site for the next phase of the main
project.

The main contractor was awarded following a competitive
tender process through the Pagabo procurement framework which ensures value for
money through an evaluation of quality (including health and safety), cost and
social value of appropriately experienced supply chain partners.

 

Capital Programme for 2024/25 and was agreed by full Council
on the 13 February 2024 (minute 75) with the funding then being carried through
to 2025/26.

Alternative options considered

Alternative options considered and rejected:

 

Option 1 – To award the demolition contract for the
Bridport Connect Building to an alternative contractor. 

The recommendation is to award the contract to Spetisbury Construction Ltd. on Option 2. They scored
highest overall and offered the lowest price, at 10% above estimated value but
still representing good value for money. They scored highest on the quality criteria and their responses provided enough confidence that
they could manage and complete the project competently. There were no minimum score thresholds applied to any of the
quality questions.

 

Spetisbury Construction Ltd. are
an experienced contractor with a good track record of working on other Dorset
Council projects without issue to us or third-party users.

 

Option 2 – To not award the demolition contract for Hardy
House to A Hammonds & Sons Ltd.

The Spetisbury Construction Ltd.
tender return was considered by officers and external cost consultants / tender
evaluators Currie and Brown to be the most economically advantageous tender
return and provided the best value for money for the council.  The tender return was within the project
budget.

 

Option 3 – To not proceed with the for Bridport Connect
building demolition.

This option would result in the council not taking forward
action to would address antisocial behaviour in the area that is linked to a
long term abandoned building owned by Dorset Council. The building would also
attract ongoing security costs and overheads as well reputational damage to
Dorset Council’s standing the community.