Decision details

Sunken Gardens Project, Bognor Regis

Decision Maker: Environment Committee

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decisions:

[Councillor Needs declared a Personal Interest during discussion in this item as a Member of Bognor Regis Town Council]

 

Upon the invitation of the Chair, the Principal Landscape and Project Officer introduced the report to the Committee. She explained that two tenders had been received for the delivery of the Sunken Gardens scheme. They would usually expect more tenders, however contractors were being very selective around what they wanted to tender for in the current climate. Both tenders exceeded the previously approved works sum of £230k set out in the heads of terms for contract award. Approval was sought to increase this to £312k, which would still be within the approved £500k supplementary estimate. It was possible that the full £312k would not be required as this did include a contingency. The plan would be to commence work after Christmas, and was expected to take around 4 months to complete.

 

          The Chair then invited questions from Members. Concern was expressed that Members did not get to see the tenders, and it was felt that it would be good to have a firmer idea of what would be eventually delivered, which could change from the initial artist impression shown to Members at a previous meeting.

 

          Councillor Stanley then proposed an amendment to the Officer recommendation as follows (additions have been shown in bold with deletions shown using strikethrough:

 

1)    To approve an increase in value for the award of the construction contract up to a total cost of £312k £500k for the delivery of the Sunken Gardens scheme.

2)    Monthly updates would be delivered to all Members via email.

 

The amendment was seconded by Councillor Worne.

 

The Chair then invited debate on the amendment and the following points were raised:

·       There was concern around increasing the sum to £500k.

·       There was concern that in order for the project to be delivered according to tender, the project may end up being a dampened down version of what was promised, however offering excess of the quote for the original project to be delivered was also not felt to be a good idea.

·       One Member felt the additional money should be used to ensure all the required elements were included to a high standard, in particular the addition of a café. The Group Head of Environment and Climate Change explained that the quotes provided by the contractors had been based on the design scheme published in February 2022 following the public consultation. There would be no requirement to spend money in excess of £312k.

·       Some Members felt the contractors should be allowed to spend up to the full £500k in order to ensure the project was as good as it could be.

 

Following the debate, at the request of Councillor Stanley a recorded vote was carried out for the first part of the amendment – part 1). Those voting for were Councillors Goodheart, Needs, Stanley, Wallsgrove and Worne. Those voting against were Councillors Bicknell, Chace, Edwards, English and Madeley. Upon this being tied, the Chair used his casting vote to vote against, and the vote was therefore declared LOST.

 

A vote was then taken on the second part of the amendment, with recommendation 1) reverting back to that of the original Officer recommendation as follows:

 

1)    To approve an increase in value for the award of the construction contract up to a total cost of £312k for the delivery of the Sunken Gardens scheme.

 

2)    Monthly updates would be delivered to all Members via email.

 

Following a vote, this amendment was confirmed as CARRIED.

 

Turning to the substantive, Members asked that the monthly update run concurrently and should include any agreed variations.

 

The substantive recommendation was Proposed by Councillor Stanley and Seconded by Councillor Bicknell.

 

         

          The Committee

 

RESOLVED that

 

1)    an increase in value for the award of the construction contract up to a total cost of £312k for the delivery of the Sunken Gardens scheme be approved.

 

2)    Monthly updates be delivered to all Members via email.

 

 

Publication date: 01/12/2022

Date of decision: 17/11/2022

Decided at meeting: 17/11/2022 - Environment Committee

Accompanying Documents: