Issue - meetings

The report seeks authority to trigger the award of Stage Two of the design and build contract for the redevelopment of Knowles House whilst also providing a progress update on the project following previous Cabinet approvals.

RESOLVED that:

i)     Cabinet provided approval to trigger the entry into the contract for Stage Two of the Two Stage design and build contract for the redevelopment of Knowles House to Wates Residential Ltd.

ii)    Cabinet noted the budget for the redevelopment of Knowles House as set out in Appendix 2 to the report from the Strategic Director of Resources.

iii)   Cabinet noted that the redevelopment of this site would reduce the number of people in unsuitable temporary accommodation in Brent.

Councillor Margaret McLennan, Deputy Leader, introduced the report seeking authority to trigger the award of the Stage Two of the two stage design and build contract for the redevelopment of Knowles House to Wates Residential Ltd. Cabinet had previously approved capital investment for delivery of the Knowles House Scheme at its meeting on 19 June 2017. Since the approval, a GLA grant of £65m (to deliver a five year programme of affordable housing) had been awarded to Brent, part of which would be allocated to the Knowles House scheme. The report detailed that the scheme was originally due to have been delivered in two phases but it had subsequently been recommended that it be delivered in one phase instead. The benefits of single phase delivery included: a reduction in the construction programme of approximately 40 weeks; simpler construction and reduced contract sum; New Accommodation for Independent Living (NAIL) delivered earlier; full rental stream earlier; and, revenue savings achieved earlier.

In considering the recommendations of the report, the Cabinet had before them two appendices which were not for publication as they contained the following category of exempt information as specified under paragraph 3, Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, namely:  Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). These appendices comprised a Value for Money report and a summary of costs.

RESOLVED that:

i)     Cabinet provided approval to trigger the entry into the contract for Stage Two of the Two Stage design and build contract for the redevelopment of Knowles House to Wates Residential Ltd.

ii)    Cabinet noted the budget for the redevelopment of Knowles House as set out in Appendix 2 to the report from the Strategic Director of Resources.

iii)   Cabinet noted that the redevelopment of this site would reduce the number of people in unsuitable temporary accommodation in Brent.