Decision details

Waiver for a contract to undertake a facilities planning model assessment for Cheltenham Borough

Decision Maker: Director of Community & Economic Development - Tracey Birkinshaw

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decision:

To agree a waiver to enable the Council to enter into a contract with Sports England to undertake a facilities planning model assessment for Cheltenham Borough

 

Reasons for the decision:

The council has commissioned Max Associates to compile a sports strategy for Cheltenham. As part of this work, the council needs to contract separately with Sports England to undertake a separate facility assessment using a Sport England methodology known as facility planning modelling.

Via their contractors – ORH Ltd. Sports England will undertake the following work:

  • To provide a 2023 assessment for sports halls and swimming pools in the Cheltenham Borough Council area, and the surrounding local authorities, which make up the study area to assess how the supply of sports halls is meeting current demand in 2023 and future demand up to 2041
  • The purpose of the assessments is to identify the impact population change especially residential development has on the demand for sports halls and swimming pools and their distribution.
  • The assessment of need will then inform Local Plan policies for indoor sports facilities provision.

ORH consultants have provided a price for the work of £11,592 +VAT

The reason for the waiver is that there is would be no genuine competition, becauseIn this case:

  • Sport England uses the Facilities Planning Model (FPM) under license from Edinburgh University as part of Sport England sports facilities modelling services. Access to using of the FPM in England is only through Sport England, who uses the FPM as part of its strategic facility planning tools.
  • ORH have been procured by Sport England to help deliver these modelling services.  The procurement was via a competitive OJEU Open Procedure route. 
  • ORH are Sport England’s sole supplier for delivery of these services. Sport England works with the supplier to ensure that costs reflect the work involved.

There is therefore only one route that the council can use to undertake the facility planning assessment.  As SRO of this project, I requested that this position was further tested by the project lead and procurement.  This due diligence has been completed and therefore content to progress on the basis of the waiver.

 

Alternative options considered:

None.

Consultees

None.

Contact: Richard Gibson, Head of Communities, Wellbeing and Partnerships Email: [email protected].

Publication date: 04/10/2023

Date of decision: 04/10/2023

Accompanying Documents: