Purpose

Extension of Existing Project Management
Support Contract - AtkinsRéalis until new contract is
awarded.

Decision

For the reasons set out in this report, the
Corporate Director has decided to:
 
1)   
Vary the existing contract with
AtkinsRéalis UK Limited (Company Number 00688424) for project
management support services to extend the end date until 31 March
2026 with an estimated maximum value for the variation of
£124,668

Alternative options considered

1.1          
Do Nothing: The Council would not have sufficient resource capacity
or expertise with respect to highways project and programme
management to manage and deliver the known and committed capital
programme of work until the new contract is awarded. Not having
specialist highways project management support services, may result
in risk to contracts not being managed and administrated correctly,
which may expose the Council to risks, increased costs, projects
overrun, and disputes. Therefore, this option has been
discounted.
 
1.2          
Alternative option – The council could advertise for
permanent highways project managers to increase the capability
within the department. However, TH&P has previously sought to
recruit into the relevant roles through 2023, 2024 and again
recently 2025 – most recently interviews of shortlisted
candidates February 2025 - and have been unsuccessful to date in
placing suitable candidates or offers being accepted for the
positions advertised.  It is however the
intent of TH&P to commence a further recruitment exercise in
2026 with a view to recruit into vacancies in project
management.