Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Community and Housing Strategy on the Construction Contract for Temporary Accommodation at Howlands and Burfield Close.

Cabinet delegated the decision to award the construction contract for temporary accommodation at Howlands House and Burfield Close to the Executive Member for Housing and Climate Change and the Executive Member for Resources by means of an Executive Member Decision, subject to Howlands House receiving planning permission.

Report of the Head of Community and Housing Strategy on the Construction Contract for Temporary Accommodation at Howlands and Burfield Close.

(1)        The Decision Taken

RESOLVED:

(unanimous)

Cabinet delegated the decision to award the construction contract for temporary accommodation at Howlands House and Burfield Close to the Executive Member for Housing and Climate Change and the Executive Member for Resources by means of an Executive Member Decision, subject to Howlands House receiving planning permission.

(2)       Reasons for the Decision

The Affordable Housing Procurement Board had overseen the procurement of the construction of the new proposed temporary accommodation at Howlands House, Welwyn Garden City and Burfield Close, Hatfield.

Burfield Close is a 25 unit scheme with planning approval to redevelop and deliver 43 units to be used as temporary accommodation. Howlands House currently provides temporary accommodation but looks tired and outdated and with proposals to deliver 72 modern flexible temporary accommodation units which include a number of fully adapted units to provide suitable housing to an individual or household with a disability.

The Affordable Housing Procurement Board had overseen the procurement route and tender evaluation criteria.

Due to Covid-19 outbreaks in earlier in January, bidders asked for a longer deadline to submit their tenders so that the adequate resources could be allocated to the tender preparation. This extension of time meant that the original procurement timetable could not be achieved. 

To enable the project to commence as programmed, the report recommends to Cabinet to delegate the decision to award the construction contract to the Executive Member for Housing and Climate Change and to the Executive Member for Resources who chairs the Affordable Housing Procurement Board and this would be by means of Executive Members Decision Notice and subject to Howlands House receiving planning permission.