Decision details

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1)    Agree the HRA Works to Stock Programme and specific planned works to the housing stock for the remainder of the 2023/24 financial year, as set out in the report.

2)    Delegate to the Corporate Director of Place, the authority to:

a)    Utilise existing internal or external framework agreements or develop new LBH framework agreements for Cabinet approval, to enable the effective delivery of appropriate works, tenders and contracts.

b)   Approve project specific works completed using an approved LBH Framework or Term contract.

c)    Release capital funds for the specific works, as set out in the programme and strictly within approved budgets;

d)   Agree minor variations to specific projects within the programme, subject to agreement from the Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport;

e)    Make any other operational decisions required to implement the works agreed by the Cabinet.

3)    Agree that relevant portfolio Cabinet Members receive quarterly summary updates, on progress delivering the programme providing capital releases and also capital spend to-date for monitoring purposes. Furthermore, any contracts entered into by the Corporate Director, via framework agreement, exceeding £500k be reported to Cabinet for information as part of the budget monitoring report.

4)    Agree, that any variations to the overall programme or approved programme budget be reported to Cabinet for approval in the first instance.

5)    Agree to receive a similar report annually in March to agree the forward HRA programme of works for the ensuing financial year and also to review works delivered from the previous financial year.

Reasons for recommendations

The Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report, which sought to address governance and control arrangements for the Works to Stock Programme for council housing valued at £29m, to both upgrade tenants’ homes, make them more energy efficient and deal with other priorities such as the removal of damp.

Cabinet agreed special delegated authority to the relevant Corporate Director in order to streamline the delivery of these operational works, authorise their capital spend and to agree contractual matters within approved Framework Agreements and term contracts, subject to oversight by Cabinet Members.

Cabinet, therefore, agreed the work programme for the remained of the financial year and also agreed to receive a report in March annually, to look-back at delivering the previous year’s programme and agree the ensuing year’s.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided to keep the status quo with the current level of delegated authority or could have amended the specific works programme of works.