Decision details

The Executive received the report on the Hamlin Gardens Housing scheme. The Report provided an overview of the previously approved budget in October 2019 of £4m for this Scheme as well as the procurement and budget challenges that had occurred since the approval of the budget.

Particular reference was made to circumstances arising since the initial budget approval related to the impact of both of Brexit and the Covid Pandemic on materials availability and costs, skills shortages in the industry. This, coupled with a buoyant market, mean that the latest procurement exercise conducted in October 2021concluded that it was no longer possible to deliver the scheme for the approved budget allocation.

Members were reminded that they had previously agreed a sum of £3m to be used to realise development opportunities and it was proposed that £1.3m of this be sued to increase the budget available to develop the Hamlin Gardens site.

It was confirmed that the revised costed Scheme was still assessed as being financially viable.

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(1)   note the procurement and budget issues that had arisen in implementing the previously agreed decision on the development of the Hamlin Gardens site; and

(2)   approve an increase in the approved budget by £1.3 million to £5.3 million to allow the Council to enter into a construction contract with the chosen main contractor.