Decision details

Summary of Decision

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Council Reform has approved the following contract awards:

The Cabinet Member has agreed not to award Lot 1 (Property) & Lot 9 (Residential leasehold buildings) at this time and will be subject to a further tender process as detailed in paragraphs 4.25-4.28 of the report.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Council Reform has delegated authority to the Executive Director of Finance and Resources to subsequently approve the award of Lots 1 and 9, noting they need to be in place prior to 1 April 2024.

Reasons for Decision 

In respect of the award of leasehold buildings insurance the Council needs to award a contract of insurance to comply with the Council’s legal obligations under the leasehold agreement entered into at the time of sale of the lease to the leaseholders the covenant to insure their asset and ensure the relevant portion of the Councils freehold is insured.

In respect of the award of Property insurance this is to provide funds to reinstate Council assets following damage by insured perils, in the absence of which the financial costs of re-instatement would place considerable or impossible financial demands upon the Council.

In respect of the award of Combined Liability Insurance this is to indemnify the Council against legal costs and damages arising from legal claims against the Council in Negligence, Nuisance, Libel, and Slander. The absence of which would place considerable or impossible financial demands upon the Council.

It is a requirement of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 that these insurance contracts are competitively procured and as established above, the non-purchase of insurance coverage would result in uncapped financial exposures for the Council and for which the potential value of losses could exceed reserves. Prudence would therefore dictate purchase of insurance to mitigate against this and to comply with statutory requirements.