Decision details

To authorise the completion of the gas rationalisation works contract and all ancillary agreements necessary to execute the contract, along with authorising a single procurement action in respect of the contract pre-works to enable the Council to perform its contractual obligations in line with the contract programme, and mitigate Covid-19 market tender response impacts.

:

In accordance with the delegation of approvals set out in the Cabinet Decision E3168, the Director of Economy and Growth in consultation with the S151 Officer, authorise the completion of the gas rationalisation works contract and all ancillary agreements necessary to execute the contract and meet its obligations under it including but not limited to construction leases, land transfer for operational gas apparatus, easement and an exempt single procurement action and award in respect of construction pre-works.

The Council has considered the other options available to safeguard the delivery of new homes in Bath as;

Do Nothing – Council does not procure the gas rationalisation works and leaves it to the market to bring the land forward once viable to do so. Given the complexity and expense of upfront infrastructure and remediation, this is likely to continue to stall development for a number of years.

Delay – Do not procure the gas rationalisation works on current programme and defer the project until the market can respond through the Council’s normal Contract Standing Orders. This approach has failed because the time limits required for tendering cannot be met due to the unforeseen Covid-19 emergency, and would therefore not support the Council’s land investment, or provide any programme certainty to the delivery of new homes needed in Bath. This option is therefore discounted.