Issue - meetings

·        That authority to award future construction contracts above £500,000 in value, where a competitive tender procedure has been followed through the BuildSurrey portal, be delegated to the Chief Property Officer in consultation with the Head of Procurement, Cabinet Member for Assets and Regeneration Programmes, Cabinet Member for Business Services, Cabinet Member for Schools and Learning, the Leader of the Council and Section 151 Officer.

·        That authorisation obtained under the above delegation be formally minuted with the Section 151 Officer retaining the paperwork.

Reason for decisions

The agreed delegation ensures that the limited delivery timescales of some 30 School Basic Needs projects are met. The school projects totalling approximately £50m over the next two years, and other non-schools capital works up to £10m in aggregate will be tendered through the BuildSurrey portal. This will ensure that as much of the over £60m of construction works as possible will be delivered directly through Surrey based contractors.

The delegation is in line with the principles established under previous arrangements.  The consultation and decision recording requirements of the delegation will provide an appropriate governance structure.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Council Overview & Scrutiny Committee]

In response to an increasing demand for school places across Surrey, the Council had established in its Medium Term Financial Plan 2013-2018 a Capital Programme to fund the provision of additional places in a number of schools.

As part of this programme 30 school capital construction projects would be procured over the next few years, along with a variety of non-school capital works. Procurement and Property Services had developed a strategy to engage local building contractors to tender for schools and other projects through the BuildSurrey portal.

The Cabinet considered a request for delegated authority to be granted to the Chief Property Officer, with Member and financial oversight, in order to engage with local building contractors outside of the Framework Agreement. Cabinet Members noted the aim that 60% of the expenditure would go to businesses in Surrey. The Council spent around £1million a day with Surrey businesses. It was noted that this policy could really enhance the local economy and help small businesses in Surrey.

RESOLVED

1.         That authority to award future construction contracts above £500,000 in value, where a competitive tender procedure has been followed through the BuildSurrey portal, be delegated to the Chief Property Officer in consultation with the Head of Procurement, Cabinet Member for Assets and Regeneration Programmes, Cabinet Member for Business Services, Cabinet Member for Schools and Learning, the Leader of the Council and Section 151 Officer.

2.         That authorisation obtained under the above delegation be formally minuted with the Section 151 Officer retaining the paperwork.

Reason for decisions

The agreed delegation ensures that the limited delivery timescales of 30 School Basic Needs projects are met. The school projects totalling approximately £50m over the next two years, and other non-schools capital works up to £10m in aggregate will be tendered through the BuildSurrey portal. This will ensure that as much of the over £60m of construction works as possible will be delivered directly through Surrey based contractors.

The delegation is in line with the principles established under previous arrangements.  The consultation and decision recording requirements of the delegation will provide an appropriate governance structure.