Decision

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FOR ITEM:

None

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1. Approved the tendering of the works contract for Mallard Place (Chocolate Factory Phase 2) within the maximum construction cost contained in the exempt report.
   
   
2. Approved the Commencement of the Procurement in accordance with CSO 2.01 b) (Cabinet approve commencing a procurement exercise for proposed Contracts valued at £500,000 or more) to appoint a contractor to undertake works related to Mallard place for a period of up to 3 years commencing July 2026. 
   
   
3. Approved the primary route to market being the LCP Minor Works Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), in accordance with CSO 8.01 (use of LCP DPS). In the event the DPS does not generate sufficient interest or an acceptable tender, the procurement will revert to the LCP Major Works Housing Framework (MWH -24 Lot 1.3), in accordance with CSO 7.02 (use of LCP Frameworks).

Reasons for decisions

These approval decisions would ensure that the Council will not lose the grant allocations it has secured, by tendering the build contract in readiness to have entered into contract by March 2026. Details of the grant funding conditions are set out in the exempt report.

This decision supported the delivery of 150 homes towards the Council’s house building target of 3000 Council homes by 2031

Alternative options considered

The Council could decide to not tender the scheme. This option was discounted as it would negatively impact on the Council’s target of building more than 3,000 genuinely affordable high-quality council homes by 2031.

The alternative option is to sell the site(s). This isn’t the preferred option, and the land value would likely be low. This option would impact the Council’s commitment to build 3000 Council homes by 2031 and would also contravene agreement with the GLA.