Purpose

To seek approval to procure a gas contractor for NNC’s housing stock

Decision

RESOLVED

KEY DECISION

That the Executive delegated authority to the Executive Member for Housing, Communities and Levelling Up in consultation with the Executive Director for Adults, Health Partnerships and Housing, to procure, negotiate, award, and enter into a contract for the servicing, repairs and maintenance of the Council’s Housing Heating Systems, to ensure that the Council’s housing stock is maintained and that the legal obligation to annually service gas and oil appliances is met.

Reasons for Recommendation: By approving this recommendation, Council officers will be able to: -

·       Closely align services with Government legislation, regulation and initiatives, through the use of a procured contractor across the two Housing Property Services team areas.

·       Ensure a fully compliant procurement process is conducted in the most efficient and timely manner and a new contract is in place for the delivery of the services.

·       Provide better value for money to the Council.

·       Ensure tenants benefit from the delivery of this statutory service in the housing stock across North Northamptonshire.

Alternative Options Considered:

·       Continue with existing separate systems for both Corby and Kettering teams. This option is not recommended as it would not result in a joined-up team working across North Northamptonshire.

·       Set up an in-house Gas team covering all NNC Council Homes. This option is not recommended due to the current difficulties in recruiting to vacant posts within the in-house Kettering team. Operating an in-house service with an even higher number of agency staff than at present would come with significant risks to delivery.

·       Procure a contractor to provide a service to all NNC Council Homes for all of the different parts of the Gas service. This option is not recommended as there were a number of benefits identified to retaining the installation of new boilers and void gas works in-house. Mainly, that there was no identified financial benefit from new boiler installations being contracted out as opposed to being completed in-house and the loss of direct control of void works, that could lead to an impact on voids performance