Decision details
Commissioning works to progress the St Owen Street cycle contraflow as part of the Hereford City Centre Improvements (HCCI).
Decision Maker: Corporate Director – Economy & Environment
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Purpose:
1. The 7 October 2021 Cabinet Member decision
identified this scheme as an important project to support
investment already made in the central area which provide
continuity on design and approach to the city centre public realm.
This decision approved a budget of £700,000 for delivery of
the scheme.
2. Value for Money - The Council has struggled to deliver all
elements of the HCCI project in line with the initial programme set
out by the LEP and incorporated into the delivery contract. The
delays have come about as a consequence of a wide variation in
scope and also a desire to ensure that the Council is seen to be
“doing the right thing”. The delays to the programme,
and hence delivery, were noted in the decision titled Hereford City
Centre Improvements (HCCI), 7 October 2021 and the decision made to
deliver the works via the Public Realm Contract (PRC). The PRC
provides the Council with access to design and build resource that
allows it to deliver schemes without the need to engage with other
external providers. The Public Realm Concract provider, BBLP, often
uses local supply chain partners to deliver works. A number of
different providers were approached as a part of the estimating
process for the scheme, only one provider presented a priced
schedule. Had the Council decided to appoint an external consultant
to design the works and prepare tender documentation then there is
no guarantee that the scheme would have attracted any further
interest from the supply chain, whilst the risk of non-delivery
before March 23 was high. If the scheme could not be delivered then
LEP funding could not be expended, this would result in default in
terms of the re-negotiated contract and would leave the Council in
a position where it would be expected to re-pay the LEP funding
that had already been defrayed. It should also be noted that the
Council has had to redesign the scheme so that it is fully LTN1/20
compliant. Whilst not a requirement of the LEP to design and build
a scheme in this way, should the Council be seen by the Department
for Transport to be installing non-compliant cycle infrastructure
then future Active Travel Fund allocations may be adversely
affected with the Council and its residents losing out in the
longer term.The Project Team and Senior Responsible Officer for the
HCCI project are satisfied that BBLP made all attempts to attract
alternative tenders for the scheme and that, when viewed in the
round of potential payback of existing grant and a likely reduction
in future DfT grant that the scheme offers value for money in this
instance.
3. Proposals were developed by BBLP to complete the scheme design,
prepare construction information, prepare the Traffic Regulation
Order (TRO) and undertake statutory consultation, undertake
procurement of a contractor and provide construction works.
4. This scheme is funded from the LEP Getting Building Fund
Grant.
5. The total scheme cost (combining design, TRO consultation,
procurement and construction) is greater than the initial
£700k allocated within the original decision.
6. An increase in costs has been as a result of recently introduced
Government LTN1/20 guidance. The scheme is designed to be compliant
and necessitated additional safety measures and the installation of
new traffic lights.
7. The road surface of St Owen St has deteriorated to an extent
that it would be necessary to resurface in the coming years. A
decision was taken to accelerate the resurfacing of St Owen St
preventing future disruption to business. This is not part of the
cycle contraflow scheme and is being funded separately through
Local Transport Plan funding but is being delivered concurrently to
ensure economy and efficiency.
8. The HCCI decision of 07 October 2021 identified that the
elements should be delivered within the overall programme
budget.
9. On 6 October 2022 a decision was taken to re-profile the HCCI
budget to account for increases within some elements and underspend
in others as schemes had progressed.
10. The Marches LEP have formally approved that budget re-profile
and therefore the budget for St Owen St has been increased to
encompass the spend outlined above.
11. Table indicating budget for St Owen St budget allocation agreed
in RoOD of 6 October 2022:
original budget £700,000.00
additional match £37,536.10
additional grant £186,398.63
additional LTP contribution £250,000.00
Total NEW budget £1,173,934.73
12. Table indicating total spend on scheme:
Design, TRO (including consultation etc) and Procurement
£96,276.81
Construction £1,002,369.47
Contingency £75,288.45
TOTAL £1,173,934.73
Contact: Susan White, Programme Manager Email: Susan.White2@herefordshire.gov.uk Tel: 01432 260070.
Publication date: 15/11/2022
Date of decision: 11/11/2022
Accompanying Documents: