Purpose

To ensure that there is a competent and
qualified contractor in place to carry out maintenance works to the
council’s housing stock. The decision is taken in relation to
the decision of Cabinet on 17 July 2024, to delegate authority for
selection of contractor to the Executive Director, Place in
consultation with the Executive Director of Finance and
Transformation.

An external tender process was undertaken during the last quarter
of 2024 returning 2 tenders. The Tender Commercial Reviews and
Moderation are detailed in Section 7 and appended to this report in
support of the request for approval.

The decision is made in accordance with the approval of Cabinet on
17 July 2024, to delegate decision making in relation to this
matter.

Content

(1) That the Executive Director of Place, in
consultation with the Executive Director of Finance and
Transformation, give approval to the appointment of Orbis Protect
Limited as the sole provider for House and Garden Clearance Works
for the duration of 1 year with the option to extend for a further
1 year, commencing from 01st July 2025.

(2) That the Assistant Director – Law and Governance and
Monitoring Officer be authorised to enter into or execute under
seal any documentation in relation to the award of the
contract.

Alternative options considered

The alternative would be for no such contract
to be approved which would result in a failure of the council to
effectively maintain its housing stock. This option is therefore
dismissed.

Not awarding a new discrete contract for the works will mean that
ad hoc arrangements will be required to maintain the councils
housing stock to the required Decent Homes standard, Consumer
Standards and Housing Act requirements. This could increase the
completion times to the already overdue repairs and could lead to
further dissatisfaction amongst tenants, disrepair, and potential
sanction or further regulatory downgrading from the Regulator of
Social Housing. This option is therefore dismissed.

Only utilise in-house provision. Current in-house provision does
not have the capacity to maintain the demand within the service
with regards to day-to-day repairs as well as significantly reduce
the current backlog. This would increase the completion times to
the already overdue repairs and could lead to further
dissatisfaction amongst tenants, disrepair, and potential sanction
or further regulatory downgrading from the Regulator of Social
Housing. This option is therefore dismissed.