Decision details

Matter for Decision

The Council owns six blocks of flats at Bermuda Terrace, Histon Road. A programme of structural repairs and associated works is required to ensure the buildings are maintained in a good state of repair.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing

      i.         Approved the award of a contract to Chas Berger Limited, subject to the completion of the required consultation with leaseholders. Chas Berger Ltd achieved the highest score following the tender evaluation process.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Asset Manager.

It was noted that this agenda item had not been included on the Forward Plan for the whole 28-day requirement before the meeting. This was because pre-tender estimates predicted a contract value below £1 million. Following tender clarifications, the contract value would exceed £1 million which changed the category of decision so that it was now a key decision. With the permission of the Chair of Housing Scrutiny Committee the urgency procedure was invoked to suspend the 28-day requirement so that the item could be considered at Committee, so it was open to scrutiny and debate rather than a decision being made through the out of cycle process.

The Asset Manager and Assistant Director for Housing and Health said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.         Noted concerns about some leaseholder’s ability to be able to pay for the repairs undertaken and advised that the works were not expected to be completed until April 2026 and therefore bills were not anticipated to be sent until September 2026. Meetings would take place with leaseholders to discuss the payment timetable and options for repayment. Agreements could be made with leaseholders if they were struggling financially. Repayment would be discussed on an individual basis. Noted that a high proportion of the Council’s leaseholders rented their properties out.

    ii.         Advised that reference to a ‘threshold’ was in relation to who could make the decision to award the contract. As the contract value had exceeded £1million this meant that the decision could not be made by an officer under delegated authority and instead the decision needed to be brought through Housing Scrutiny Committee and made by the Executive Councillor.

   iii.         Noted that balcony resurfacing had been undertaken about 10 years previously but there had been some movement in the buildings since. Repairs wouldn’t be required to all buildings and surveys would be carried out to see which buildings needed to be repaired.

  iv.         The contract was for structural repairs and not energy efficiency works, however if during the surveys it was found that there were gaps in cavity wall insulation / loft insulation then the gaps would be addressed.

    v.         Noted concerns regarding the removal and replacement of trees on the site and advised that a consultation would be undertaken with residents to ensure suitable trees were provided and a robust maintenance programme was in place.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendation.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.