Purpose

Authority to enter into a contract with the
identified Preferred Bidder resultant from the preceding
procurement process

Content

Decision:
 
That the following recommendation be approved by
Council (23 July 2024):
That the Council approves:

(1)        
The updated Outline Business Case, provided at
Appendix 1 to the report submitted to the Executive, setting out
the preferred way forward for the project, which is based on the
appointment of Wates Construction Limited as the Council’s
development partner, and who will be responsible for delivering the
scheme under a Development Agreement.

(2)        
Pursuant to the procurement process outlined in the
report, the appointment of Wates Construction
Limited.

(3)        
Expenditure of up to £39.7M from the HRA
Capital Fund to fund the project from this point forward to
completion.

(4)        
The delegation of authority to the Strategic
Director (Place), in consultation with the Lead Councillor for
Housing and Community and the Lead Councillor for Regeneration, to
enter into all contracts and such other legal agreements as are
necessary to appoint Wates Construction Limited. 

(5)        
The delegation of authority to the Strategic
Director (Place), in consultation with the Lead Councillor for
Housing and Community and the Lead Councillor for Regeneration, to
grant such approvals as are necessary to service the
Council’s responsibility to provide approvals under the
Development Agreement.  

(6)        
The delegation of authority to the Strategic
Director (Place), in consultation with the Lead Councillor for
Housing and Community and the Lead Councillor for Regeneration, to
dispose of land and buildings in accordance with the requirements
under the Development Agreement.

(7)        
The delegation of authority to the Strategic
Director (Place), in consultation with the Lead Councillor for
Housing and Community and the Lead Councillor for Regeneration, to
enter into all contracts and such other legal agreements connected
with the Guildford Park Road housing project as may be necessary in
compliance with Contract Procedure Rules and within the approved
budget.

 

Reasons:

 

·          
The Guildford Park Road redevelopment is a key
scheme within the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan that will
deliver a significant number of additional homes in the town
centre.

·          
The recommendation will support the delivery of the
Council’s emerging Corporate Strategy (2024 – 2034) by
providing and facilitating housing that people can
afford.

·          
The project will see the redevelopment of a
brownfield site, allocated for housing in the Local
Plan.

·          
The preferred delivery route for the Guildford Park
site is partnership delivery, via a Development Agreement, as set
out in the Strategic Outline Business Case approved by the
Executive in March 2023.

·          
As demonstrated in the accompanying Business Case
and Tender Report, the Council has undertaken a compliant
procurement exercise, and following evaluation and moderation of
the final tender submissions, Officers are now seeking approval to
enter into a Development Agreement with Wates Construction Limited
for the delivery of the Guildford Park
redevelopment.
Options considered and rejected:
To not endorse
the Officer recommendation to appoint Wates Construction as the
Council’s Development Partner and associated delegations.
Details of any
conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and
any dispensation granted:
None.