Decision details

Purpose: to set out the planned spend of a grant to support and accelerate the delivery of the project

Cabinet considered the report of the interim head of development, regeneration and housing.  This sought authority to spend the £995,000 government grant to support the Berinsfield community investment scheme.  The grant was obtained to help the council pay for:

·         technical studies, including modelling, to ensure that highways and utilities would have capacity for the development proposed at Berinsfield

·         design work to support a detailed planning application for phase 1 in addition to an outline planning application for the whole scheme

·         major development planning fees

·         the provision of additional resources to engage with local people

The report set out how the grant would be spent. 

Cabinet considered the options as follows:

1.         To procure the same consultancy team through a new ESPO contract.  Cabinet considered this option retained the existing experience, skills and knowledge but the time taken to award a new contract could delay commencement of the work and increase the risk of the consultancy team not being able to field the same staff resources. 

2.         To procure a different consultancy team through a new contract.  Cabinet considered that this lost the continuity of existing experience, skills and knowledge and the time taken to award a new contract would further delay commencement of the work.

3.         To extend the existing consultancy team ESPO contract through variation terms, following consultation with the Cabinet member, and subject to obtaining any additional authority required.  Cabinet considered that this option had the benefits of being a faster process and retaining continuity of experience, skills and knowledge. 

Cabinet preferred option 3 and asked officers to provide regular updates. 

RESOLVED: to authorise the interim head of development, regeneration and housing, in consultation with the Cabinet member, to

(i)        spend the £995,000 Department for Communities and Local Government’s grant to support the Berinsfield community investment scheme; and

(ii)       retain the existing consultancy team through a new ESPO contract or the extension of the existing ESPO contract.