Issue - meetings

This report provides an update on the outcome of stage two of the four-stage procurement process for the delivery of the Council’s new headquarters.  It also outlines the key activities for the next two stages, the associated timeline for the overall completion of the project and the consultation process to inform the development of the bidders’ detailed solutions.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the content of the report be noted, with particular regard to the procurement of the new headquarters and the forthcoming process of consultation.

                        (ii)        That Officers be requested to ensure that there is co-ordination of public communications around this period in relation to the production of HQ consultation, Local Development Framework consultation and the Your Ward / Your City publications.

                        (iii)       That a further update report be presented to the Executive when the results of public consultation are available and again at the end of Stage 3 of the procurement process in September 2009.

REASON:      To enable Members to monitor the progress of this project and to ensure a thorough and co-ordinated approach to public consultation.

Members considered a report which provided an update on the outcome of Stage 2 of the four-stage procurement process for the delivery of the Council’s new headquarters and outlined key activities for the next two stages.

The Stage 2 evaluation of bids was now complete and the following developers and sites had been shortlisted for Stage 3:

• Norwich Union – a redevelopment and revitalisation of Yorkshire House, Rougier Street

• Tarras Park Properties Ltd. – a redevelopment and revitalisation of West Offices, Station Rise.

The shortlisted developers had been invited to invited to submit their detailed proposals by the end of July 2009.  In developing their proposals, they would be required to take part in a process of consultation with Council staff and the general public, details of which were set out in paragraphs 17 to 21 of the report.  If successful, each developer would be invited to take part in Stage 4 of the process and submit a tender for their developed scheme.

Following evaluation of the tenders, a recommendation for the award of the contract would be brought to the Executive in December 2009.  The overall project was still set to be delivered within the previously agreed timescales of mid to late 2012.  It was noted that all costs of the new arrangements to acquire a Council headquarters building had been included within the approved project budget of £43.8m and therefore placed no additional burden on the taxpayer.

Having noted the comments of the Shadow Executive on this item, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the content of the report be noted, with particular regard to the procurement of the new headquarters and the forthcoming process of consultation.

                        (ii)        That Officers be requested to ensure that there is co-ordination of public communications around this period in relation to the production of HQ consultation, Local Development Framework consultation and the Your Ward / Your City publications. ¹

                        (iii)       That a further update report be presented to the Executive when the results of public consultation are available and again at the end of Stage 3 of the procurement process in September 2009. ²

REASON:      To enable Members to monitor the progress of this project and to ensure a thorough and co-ordinated approach to public consultation.