There is an urgent unforeseen need arising from a request from
councillors to obtain costed condition surveys of the buildings not
surveyed in 2019. It was planned to undertake this work in 2022/23 but
this information is now needed to support the Medium Term Financial
Strategy (MTFS) that will be reported to the Council in November 2021.
It is not possible to undertake the surveys in house due to the lack of
capacity within Property Services and the need for the surveys to be
completed in a short timeframe, Therefore an exemption was requested
as the rules of the CPR cannot be fully complied with.
The Condition Survey provider has been selected from a shortlist of three consultancies who have been approached in respect of the building
condition surveys: One has responded on the basis that they don’t have
capacity, another has failed to respond and the selected provider has
submitted a proposal confirming their ability to deliver 50% of the desired
works by the November deadline (original dates now amended further
due to procurement process). They are a consultancy whom the council
has experience of working with so they are familiar with the estate
and the council’s working practices. Best value can also demonstrated by being able to support the urgent need to inform the MTFS through earlier conclusion of the condition surveys.
Three quotations from the three providers have been sought as above
two responded and one declined to submit. The approach to three
consultancies for the condition surveys will not meet all the criteria for
CPR rules however this will seek to provide evidence of value for money
and confirm capacity to deliver within the tight timeframe. The
specification for the surveys has defined outcomes including quality of
delivery and standards which the provider will be assessed against.