The Shire Hall remains in a structurally unsafe condition, and requires a technical team of architects, surveyors and technical specialists to review the state of the building and develop a design to ensure an accurate costing can be provided against the required works. Stage 1 of this review was delivered through a contract with Mace Limited between May and July 2021, the result being an initial report making recommendations around the extent and likely cost of the refurbishment needed.

In the intervening period, a range of specialist surveys have been commissioned as recommended by the consultants during the stage 1 exercise. Work has also been carried out to gain an understanding of how the spaces within the Shire Hall might be used in the future so that consultants can be directed accordingly for stage 2.

There is a need to progress to stage 2 in order to further develop the findings and cost estimates from stage 1, to better define the building-specific refurbishment requirements and to apply more accurate cost-estimates. This will enable a greater understanding of the scope of the refurbishment and the budget which would be required to deliver it. This information will be essential to properly inform future decision-making around the Shire Hall.

It is highlighted that a budget for the recommended scale of refurbishment identified during stage 1 design development has not been identified or allocated and there is no certainty at this stage that it will be in the future. This decision only provides authority to progress the design development to RIBA stage 3 in order to better understand the recommended scope and likely cost of the work were it to go ahead. An executive decision would be needed before a refurbishment proposal could be incorporated within the capital programme.

The resources required are extremely technical and specialist consultants are required to design the works due to the specialist nature of the building. The appointment of Mace Limited via the framework identified will maintain continuity by engaging the same multi-discipline team to continue the work begun in stage 1.

The Shire Hall is a significant civic building with high stakeholder interest and must be progressed in the correct compliant manner.

The council are looking to make an informed decision about the Shire Hall scheme as soon as possible.

The decision will reduce the risk of further delay to the Shire Hall project and allow the council to fulfill its obligation to obtain an accurately designed and fully costed scheme to inform future decision making on the building.

The council is content with the procurement route proposed as the framework that will be used has been established through a fair and transparent tendering process.

The requirement to appoint a Principal Designer is a legal duty placed on the council by the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.