Agenda item

This report has three appendices which contain information exempt within the meaning of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and are not for publication. The appendices have therefore been circulated to Cabinet Members only.

Any discussions on the contents of an exempt appendix will require Cabinet to pass the proposed resolution identified at the end of the agenda to exclude members of the public and the press the proceedings for that discussion.

1.  Cabinet notes that Appendices 1, 3 and 4 are not for publication on the basis that they are legally privileged as set out in paragraph 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

2.  Cabinet approves estimated additional capital funding of £21.4m (£19.2m plus £2.2m contingency) necessary to complete the construction and fit out of the new Town Hall building, associated fees and other works (including necessary changes to the specification of works).

3.  Cabinet notes estimated additional one-off revenue costs of £1.6m (£1.4m plus £0.2m contingency) necessary for project costs related to returning to the Town Hall and additional dilapidations provision.

4.  Cabinet approves the entering into by the Council of a deed of variation of the Construction Contract dated 1^st December 2020 necessary to implement the proposed addition investment and changes to the specification of works the details of which are included at Appendix 1

5.  Cabinet approves the procurement strategy for design and assurance services to enable the award of a contract for 11 months for an estimated value of £ 860,000 commencing March 2023. 

6.  Cabinet approves the award of a contract to Entec Si for Audio Visual services via G-Cloud 13 for a value of £328,060 with a contract term of 1 year commencing from 1^st February 2023.

7.  Cabinet approves the increase of the long-term leasehold interest to the LLP from a term of 255 years to a term of 999 years, in line with GLA guidance outlined in Appendix 1, but otherwise on the same terms as previously agreed.

8.  Cabinet approves the variation to the Conditional Agreement for Lease(CAL) to include a mechanism for payment by the LLP of any additional consideration that may be due in respect of the leases to be granted to the LLP following the grant of those leases in advance of practical completion of the glass pod works should the construction costs for the glass pod works be less than the acceptable land value, in line with the advice to be provided relating to potential tax implications.

9.  Cabinet approves a delegation to the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, authority to temporarily increase the Capital Finance Requirement (CFR), for technical accounting purposes, to fund any capital debtor which may arise in the event of timing differences between the drawdown of each lease and the recognition of consideration by the Council, (up to a maximum of £11.9m reflecting the total value of leases proposed to be granted ahead of practical completion of the Pod works).

10.         Cabinet approves a delegation to the Strategic Director of the Economy in consultation with the Assistant Director, Legal Services authority to take all necessary steps to facilitate the decisions in 1-7. 

Councillor Andrew Jones introduced the report bringing forward the final budget on the Civic Campus. He thanked the officers involved in the scheme on their success in securing an 80% fixed build contract in 2020 during the pandemic to avoid subsequent inflation. This had been vital considering the economic turmoil and price inflation across many sectors, especially the construction sector experiencing inflation around 20%.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS:

1.  Cabinet notes that Appendices 1, 3 and 4 are not for publication on the basis that they are legally privileged as set out in paragraph 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

2.  Cabinet approves estimated additional capital funding of £21.4m (£19.2m plus £2.2m contingency) necessary to complete the construction and fit out of the new Town Hall building, associated fees and other works (including necessary changes to the specification of works).

3.  Cabinet notes estimated additional one-off revenue costs of £1.6m (£1.4m plus £0.2m contingency) necessary for project costs related to returning to the Town Hall and additional dilapidations provision.

4.  Cabinet approves the entering into by the Council of a deed of variation of the Construction Contract dated 1^st December 2020 necessary to implement the proposed addition investment and changes to the specification of works the details of which are included at Appendix 1

5.  Cabinet approves the procurement strategy for design and assurance services to enable the award of a contract for 11 months for an estimated value of £ 860,000 commencing March 2023. 

6.  Cabinet approves the award of a contract to Entec Si for Audio Visual services via G-Cloud 13 for a value of £328,060 with a contract term of 1 year commencing from 1^st February 2023.

7.  Cabinet approves the increase of the long-term leasehold interest to the LLP from a term of 255 years to a term of 999 years, in line with GLA guidance outlined in Appendix 1, but otherwise on the same terms as previously agreed.

8.  Cabinet approves the variation to the Conditional Agreement for Lease(CAL) to include a mechanism for payment by the LLP of any additional consideration that may be due in respect of the leases to be granted to the LLP following the grant of those leases in advance of practical completion of the glass pod works should the construction costs for the glass pod works be less than the acceptable land value, in line with the advice to be provided relating to potential tax implications.

9.  Cabinet approves a delegation to the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, authority to temporarily increase the Capital Finance Requirement (CFR), for technical accounting purposes, to fund any capital debtor which may arise in the event of timing differences between the drawdown of each lease and the recognition of consideration by the Council, (up to a maximum of £11.9m reflecting the total value of leases proposed to be granted ahead of practical completion of the Pod works).

10.         Cabinet approves a delegation to the Strategic Director of the Economy in consultation with the Assistant Director, Legal Services authority to take all necessary steps to facilitate the decisions in 1-7.