Decision details

Details of decision: 

SWT has a need to award a contract for the supply and installation of Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) to Council owned domestic properties in order to meet the Council’s ambitions for the installation of alternative forms of sustainable heating, assist in meeting the targets set out in its CNCR plan and provide affordable warmth for tenants. The Council is in receipt of financial support from Warmer Homes to partially fund this programme.

A compliant procurement exercise has been undertaken, utilising a framework arrangement, to select a Contractor on a direct award basis.  The estimated total contract value is approximately £1.4 million including the key components*.  The framework was set up following an open market procurement exercise and provides pre-tendered installation rates available for call off.

*The contract price of the key components themselves, namely the ASHP’s and the radiators, are set by another, separately procured but related supply only framework.

It is recommended that SWT awards the contract with the selected contractor.

Reasons for proposed decision: 

As the contract value for this work exceeds £1 million pounds it is thus classified as a Key Decision for the Executive to award as it exceeds the thresholds in the SWT Constitution, thus requiring 28 days notification in the Executive Forward Plan (undertaken 31/08/21 – 28/09/21). The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 sets out that a Key Decision is one which would result in the relevant local authority incurring expenditure which is, or the making of savings which are, significant having regard to the relevant local authority’s budget for the service or function to which the decision relates.

The Leader of the Council can delegate the making of Executive Key Decisions to her Portfolio Holders or Officers as under Part 3 of the Constitution – Responsibility for Executive Functions - 3.1.5 – “The Leader shall determine how all executive powers shall be discharged. The Leader may: a) discharge any of those functions; or b) arrange for the discharge of any of those functions: i. by the Executive collectively, ii. by another member of the Executive, iii. by a committee of the Executive, or iv. by an officer of the Authority.”

Alternative funding options sourced:

This programme is to be funded via approvals within the HRA budget and additional financial support from a Warmer Homes grant.