Decision details

To consider the approval of a works contract for the repair to the external envelope of 1 Cornhill, including stonework, windows and roofing elements.

To authorise the Head of Development, in consultation with the Legal and Democratic Services Operations Manager, to award the works contract for the external repairs and roofing works at 1 Cornhill (The Old Post Office) to Supplier A (as identified in exempt Appendix A1);

To increase the capital budget allocated for the project (by the amount identified in exempt Appendix A1).

Note: Details of Supplier A and the budgetary amounts are exempt information and are therefore set out in exempt Appendix A1.

Reasons:

The 1 Cornhill works contract will run for at least 36 weeks, and there is a clear risk that the works scaffold would still be erected in December 2020 in the event that the decision was to be made in 2020. This would then clash with Christmas shopping period, light installations and market activities during the festive period. In addition, it could also disincentivise prospective tenants entering into an agreement with the Council for the building letting.

The decision – made under the Chief Executive’s pre-election period delegations (Constitution, Part 3, Section 5, 10.1(k)) – is considered to be not politically contentious as all parties on the Borough Council have historically indicated support for doing works to bring the former Post Office back into beneficial use.

In addition, all Executive Councillors have been consulted prior to the decision being made and none have objected to the proposed decision.  Finally, the decision would still be subject to ‘call-in’ in the normal way.

The original plan was to report the matter to the November Executive meeting (i.e. the meeting that was cancelled following the calling of the 12^th December 2019 Parliamentary election).