Decision details

a) To re-appoint consultants (Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners) to update and supplement an earlier Employment Land Review. This will further contribute to evidence base work on the Local Plan, to the value of around £11,000 (excl. VAT).

This is on the basis that it is an extension of the original contract let to Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners on 6th August 2013 (Ref: NEDDC/SPU/42/13) by virtue of 4.1(c) and is exempt from the requirement for further tendering.

(Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners have confirmed that the rates are the same as the original work and that "It will not therefore be necessary for NLP to revisit much of the initial contextual analysis, which would allow NLP to pass on cost savings to the client".

Any additional cost results from an online business survey, to address shortcomings in the original evidence plus a £1,500 cost for a forecast update (an update of the original employment forecast is not available). The survey work is cost effective as part of an extension of contract; the additional date from an external source is a separate on cost).

AND

b) To re-appoint consultants (Aspinall-Verdi) to undertake further work to update and expand an earlier Employment Sites Review (Market factors). This will further contribute to evidence base work on the Local Plan, to the value of around £10,000.

This is on the basis that it is an extension of the original contract let to Aspinall-Verdi on 15th September 2013 (ref: NEDDC/LM/RC/2014/216) by virtue of 4.1(c) and is exempt from the requirement for further tendering.

Aspinall-Verdi states: "In terms of our fees we have adopted our historic rates for this commission.

Progress is continuing on the District Local Plan, including a range of evidence base studies.

a) Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners undertook an Employment Land Review for the Council which concluded in October 2013. This is available on the Council website.

The original study now needs to be updated: work which is expected to be valued in the region of £11,000.

AND

b) The consultants undertook an Employment Sites Review for the Council which concluded in November 2014. This is available on the Council website. The original study now needs to be supplemented with some additional work which is expected to be valued in the region of £10,000.

IKn both cases the original consultants would be best placed to undertake this follow up work due to their familiarity with the subject matters, local area, previous contacts with partners and methodology

This will have the benefits to the Council in both cost and time savings and would reduce the risl of the Local Plan evidence being out of date, inconsistent and//or inadmissible. This benefit includes the timely preparation of evidence to support housing provision evidence (the Strategic Housing Market Assessment) and policies.

To undertake this work internally - this would divert resources away from key work streams that are crucial to meeting the Local Plan timetable and therefore impact on the Council's ability to meet the timetable.

The works require expertise and knowledge which is not available within the Authority:

a) involves employment forecasting techniques and access to data

AND

b) involves knowledge of employment and business markets.

To not appoint - this option was rejected on the basis that it would significantly delay the Local Plan timetable land prevent the gathering of information for both employment and housing evidence for the preparation of the Local Plan. The Local Plan is a key corporate priority.

To tender for the work - rejected because it was not considered to provide good value for money. The current proposal is more cost effective because it utilises the original consultants existing knowledge and expertise, familiarity with the local area, subject matter, previous contacts with partners from having been previously engaged, whilst being charged at rates that are consistent with those previously secured through competitive tender (1)