Issue details

Award of Contract for the Woodlands Meed College New Build Project

The decision to rebuild Woodlands Meed College on its current site and with its existing capacity of 100 pupils, with a total budget of £20m was approved by Cabinet in May 2020 (Decision CAB03(20/21) refers). This approval acknowledged that there is a current under provision of area at the College (based on the Department for Education’s Building Bulletin 104) of circa 1,259 sqm. The site fails to provide the necessary levels of inclusion. As part of this decision the Cabinet also approved the delegation of authority to the Director of Property and Assets to award the contract for the works.

 

ISG Construction Ltd were procured under the Southern Construction Framework (SCF) on a two-stage design and build route for the new build project. Following the end of RIBA stage 4 design and the contractor’s financial offer, the total project cost has increased to £21.66m and is approximately £1.66m above the originally approved budget of £20m.  In October 2021 the Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills approved the allocation of the necessary additional funding to enable the project to rebuild Woodlands Meed College to proceed (Decision LS06(20/21) refers).  The intention is to proceed with awarding the contract for carrying out the rebuilding project to ISG Construction Ltd.

 

This proposed decision was published in the Forward Plan on 21 April 2021 therefore the required 28 days’ notice has been given.  However, this decision is now urgent as it is necessary to confirm award of the contract to enable the project to commence without additional delay or further cost increase. Due to the need for this decision to be determined as soon as possible, the Director of Property and Assets has consulted with the Chairman of the Children and Young People’s Services Scrutiny Committee regarding this urgent decision being taken and coming into effect immediately.

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Expenditure > £500,000;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Divisions affected: Burgess Hill East;

Notice of proposed decision first published: 21/04/2021

This decision will be taken under urgency procedures.

Reason for urgency:
This decision is urgent as it is necessary to confirm award of the contract to enable the project to commence without additional delay or further cost increase.

Decision due: November 2021 by Director of Property and Assets

Lead member: Andrew Edwards, Assistant Director (Property and Assets) andrew.edwards@westsussex.gov.uk

Lead director: Andrew Edwards

Contact: Carol Bruce, Contracts Officer Email: carol.bruce@westsussex.gov.uk Tel: 033 022 23055.

Consultation process

Representations concerning this proposed decision can be made to the Director of Property and Assets, via the officer contact, by the beginning of the month in which the decision is due to be taken.

Consultees

Procurement

Legal

Finance

Property and Assets

Decisions

Background papers