Decision details

To appoint Ian Williams Ltd and Lovell Partnerships Ltd under a five year term contract to deliver the internal decent homes component replacement, disability adaptations and communal works.

Between 2004 and 2009 CBH delivered the Creating Better Homes programme. This project aimed to improve the living conditions for CBC tenants in around 3500 homes across the Borough and provide a 'decent home' which is defined as being warm, weatherproof and having reasonably modern facilities. These improvement works were focussed on kitchen and bathroom replacements, electrical rewires and heating upgrades. The anticipated life span for a kitchen is 20 years and a bathroom 30 years. The kitchens that were replaced through the Creating Better Homes programme are now becoming due for replacement, whilst some bathrooms, level access showers and electrics may also need renewal or upgrading to maintain compliance with the Decent Homes Standard. To improve service delivery, it is also proposed that disability adaptations and some communal work such as flooring and soil stack renewals will also be delivered under this contract.

A procurement exercise has taken place and following receipt of eleven tenders, Lovell Partnerships Ltd and Ian Williams Ltd were selected being the highest two scoring tenderers when evaluated on the quality of their submission and cost.   

Budgetary provision was made in the HRA budget 24/25 proposals presented for Council approval in Feb 24, with a projection of budgetary requirements for the following two years. The HRA 30 year plan includes for significant investment in renewal of these components. For future years no orders committing to spend under the new contract will be raised until budget approval has been given on an annual basis.

The Council considered continuing a programme of maintenance and renewal of these components through the in-house Building Services operation, however, scale and timeframe for the project was compared against the existing resources, skills and capabilities and it was decided that the appointment of external contractors would be required to meet the upcoming programme of work.

CBH’s repairs department have been consulted regarding future maintenance and have approved the specified components and preference for component standardisation.

Leaseholders have been consulted through the formal notification process as required by the Commonhold and leasehold Reform Act 2002 as it is intended that certain works to communal areas will be delivered under the contracts.