Decisions

This provided the quickest and most efficient route to market to provide further void refurbishment services and ensure void properties are turned around and relet quickly.

Approval to award a temporary arrangement for a provider to carry out void refurbishment works to Housing owned properties while a permanent contract is procured. Due to the delay in procuring the new Responsive Repairs framework, the incumbent contractors are at capacity; therefore, properties are currently on hold without work commencing Further resources are required to ensure void works continue and the backlog of properties ‘on hold’ is reduced.

This provided the quickest and most efficient route to market to reduce the backlog of repairs currently outstanding which is considerably impacting the service provided to the homes of tenants across the city.

Approval to award a further temporary arrangement for a provider to carry out responsive repairs to Housing owned properties while a permanent contract is procured. This is to assist with the reduction of the still considerable RR backlog which has occurred as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent impact on internal and external resources. The contract was a direct award to an incumbent supplier based on the lack of bids from other suppliers on the tender, and the urgent requirement for additional resources to reduce the backlog.

Decision to agree an increase in fees and charges for a range of regulatory services with effect from 1 August 2022.

Fees and charges are subject to an annual review, there was no increase last year. The income from fees should be sufficient to run the service without relying on the General Revenue account however as other costs have increased it is now necessary to increase fees. Generally a fee increase of 4% has been applied across the board although there have been some increases and reductions for various reasons.

The decision is made in accordance with the delegated authority provided at April 2022 Cabinet for development of the 601 Whitchurch Lane site (Construction of light industrial units).

The Council is appointing a main contractor to build 14 light industrial units at 601 Whitchurch Lane, Bristol. The decision is to appoint Bray and Slaughter and manage the JCT Construction Contract utilising the budget approved at April 2022 Cabinet including available contingency. The decision follows completion of a compliant tender process and withdrawal of the first placed bidder’s tender, leading to Bray and Slaughter being appointed as the second placed bidder.

To deliver disabled adaptations across Bristol to BCC stock and Disabled Facility Grants to Owner Occupiers, Private Landlords and Housing associations.

Approval to award a contract for the Framework for the Installation

In March 2021 Cabinet approved the preferred approach to manage the risk of flooding from the River Avon as set out in the Strategic Outline Case and approved the development of Outline Business Case(s) to further refine proposals and progress the case for investment. This decision allows us to provide a dedicated resource to manage the project on a day-to-day basis.

To approve utilisation of the Strategic Partnership Initiative contract to provide the council with project management support for the Bristol Avon Flood Strategy.

Whitehouse Street has been identified as an area of Growth

Approval to enter Plot 1a within the Whitehouse Street Regeneration Area in the C40 Reinventing Cities competition to select a multidisciplinary team and Development Partner to work with the Council to deliver a light industrial intensification development on site, which also responds to challenges created by climate change. Bristol City Council is the freeholder of Plot 1a. Cabinet approval will be sought prior to entering into contract or disposing of the site to any development partner identified through the C40 Reinventing Cities competition.

This will ensure that we are able to fund the services that are keeping citizens safe in accommodation that provides appropriate support and further preventing and reliving rough sleeping in the city in line with the governments Rough Sleeping Strategy and the aims of the Corporate Strategy 2022-27.

A report was approved by Cabinet on 7th June 2022 for the four Preventing Homelessness Accommodation Pathways to be extended for two periods of one year each from 28th October 2022 to 27th October 2024, and for the Pathways Resettlement Service to be extended for a period of one year from 23rd October 2022 to 22nd October 2023.
Recommendation 1 on the report requested that Cabinet, ‘Authorise the Executive Director of Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes, to: a) extend the Men Only Services; Mix Accommodation; Women Only Services; Substance Misuse, each for 1 + 1 years until 27th October 2024; and b) extend the Preventing Homelessness Accommodation Pathway Resettlement Service for 1 year until 22nd October 2023’.

This will ensure that we are able to fund the services that are preventing and reliving rough sleeping in the city in line with the governments Rough Sleeping Strategy and the aims of the Corporate Strategy 2022-27.

A report was approved by Cabinet on the 5th April 2022 for the plans for the provision of services relating to the Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) and Commissioning services from 2022 to 2025.
Recommendation 1 on the report requested that Cabinet, ‘Authorise the Executive Director of Growth and Regeneration in consultation with Cabinet Member Housing Delivery and Homes to enter into a grant agreement to accept and spend the funding of £10,160,931 from DLUCH to reduce rough sleeping in the city for 2022/25”. We now have confirmation of the award from July 2022 to March 2025. This funding, alongside the funding already granted for Q1 will allow us to extend current contracts and grant agreements until tender processes have been undertaken and new contracts are in place for funded services in the programme until March 2025.

This will ensure that we are able to fund the services that are preventing and reliving rough sleeping in the city in line with the governments Rough Sleeping Strategy and the aims of the Corporate Strategy 2022-27.

A report was approved by Cabinet on the 5th April 2022 for the plans for the provision of services relating to the Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) and Commissioning services from 2022 to 2025.
Recommendation 2 on the report requested that Cabinet, ‘Authorise the Executive Director, Growth and Regeneration to accept and spend the 2022-23 Quarter 1 funding award from DLUHC
for £690,345 received on 20th December 2021”. 2022-23 is a transition year, as we are seeking to extend current contracts and grant agreements until tender processes have been undertaken and
new contracts are in place for funded services in the programme.

To maintain our stock to safe standard and to meet current legislation

Approval to award a contract to upgrade the electrical systems at Southbow, Whitemead and Winterstoke Houses.

At a Cabinet meeting on 04/02/2020 authority to award the contract for domestic abuse services was delegated to the Executive Director, People in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities.
At a further cabinet meeting on 09/03/2021 authority to award contracts to meet the requirements of the Domestic Abuse Act (Accommodation based domestic abuse support) was also delegated to the Executive Director for People in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities.
Bristol City Council receives additional government funding from the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to enable it to meet these ‘new burdens’.
A compliant procurement process has taken place and Next Link’s tender submissions for both aspects of service provision were successful.

To award to Next Link the contract for the provision of:
1. Accommodation based domestic abuse support; and
2. Specialist domestic abuse services