Decisions

Request to waive contract procedure rules and agree direct contract award with ESS in respect of CCTV maintenance repairs and 24 hour call out service.

That the contract procedure rules be waived and direct contract award be agreed with ESS in respect of CCTV maintenance repairs and 24 hour call out service for a contract term of 18 months at a cost of £150,000.

Reason - A procurement exercise was carried out, the successful supplier has failed to provide the service and ESS have agree to the contract terms.

Request to waive contract procedure rules and agree direct contract award in respect of Women's Refuge Service, Family Help.

That the contract procedure rules be waived and direct contract award be agreed in respect of Family Help Women's Refuge Service for a contract term of 12 months with the option to extend by 12 months at a cost of £156,000.

Reason - To secure this vital service and to allow for pending legislation to be taken into account.

Approval of licence applications/permissions/consents made under the Licensing Act 2003 for the month of November 2019.

Individual decisions made in accordance with the provisions of the relevant legislation are detailed on the attached document.

To agree the Applications for Planning Permission and Other Consents under the Town and Country Planning Act and Associated Legislation.

Individual decisions made in accordance with the provisions of the relevant legislation are detailed on the attached document.

Approval for disposal of a property in Swinburne Road to be granted to the current owners.
A former Council property in Swinburne Road was sold to the current owners with a covenant that DBC receive a capital receipt should the property be re-sold. The current owners now wish to re-sell the property as it is surplus to their requirements and are therefore requesting approval from Darlington Borough Council to enable the sale to proceed.

That approval be given to the current owners of a former Council house in Swinburne Road to dispose of the property by sale.

Reasons - a) The current owners wish to sell the property as it is surplus to their requirements.

b) The Council will benefit from a Capital Receipt due to its sale.

Approval to grant wayleave to Northern Powergrid through Darlington Borough Council land at Salters Lane to install a new electricity supply to Ingenium Parc.

To grant a Wayleave across Council land at Salters Lane to enable Darlington Borough Council to have an adequate power supply installed at Ingenium Parc.

Request to grant a licence to carry out tree thinning and felling to create areas for wetland scrapes and ponds. All felling to be carried out as per felling licence.

Approval of grant of licence to carry out tree thinning and felling to create areas for wetland scrapes and ponds at mature woodland, Mill Lane, Middleton St George.

Reason - To achieve dual benefits of increasing wetland biodiversity by creating shallow scapes and ponds in a ‘wet woodland’ and reducing flooding in Stockton by slowing the flow of water into Lustrum Beck. Trees being felled are of poor quality and the creation of brushwood hibernacula will encourage insects and invertebrates.

Request to waive contract procedure rules in repect of a direct award for 48 months for a health and safety audit and incident management software.
Competitve process was carried out but did not identify an experienced Health and Safety software provider in line with the requirements specification.

In line with Rule 24 within the Corporate Procedure Rules, waiver of Rule 23 in order to direct award to Airsweb. This solution has already been tested and currently used by North Tyneside Council as a successful solution. Contract to be awarded on Council terms and conditions. Costs have been benchmarked and represent value for money.

Reason - To ensure original timescales are adhered to with full roll-out expected 1 April 2020 and also falls within expected costs of £104,760 throughout 4 year contract term for all essential and desirable elements listed.

Request to waive contract procedure rules in respect the extension of a contract for the provision of refuge accomodation and support for people affected by domestic abuse.

The original procurement exercise was carried out in 2014 with a start date of 1 April 2015. Initial contract period was 36 months with optional 2 x 12 month extensions. The final extension has been invoked and the current contract end date is 31 March 2020. The extension period will be for 12 months with an option to extend for a further 12 months.

The award is in line with Section 72(1) of the Public Contract Regulations, and will continue on the current terms and conditions, with the scope of the Contract remaining the same.

That contract procedure rules be waived in respect of the extension of a contract for the provision of refuge accomodation and support for people affected by domestic abuse, for an extension period of 12 months, with a further option to extend for 12 months.
Value for money is confirmed and the price is as established in a competitive exercise.

Reasons - (a) To allow for impacts of the Domestic Abuse Bill (once enacted) to be assessed to inform future service requirements and possible funding implications.
(b) Work will focus on co-ordination of Domestic Abuse services in Darlington to ensure service delivery is maximised.
(c) The current contracted rate will remain for the extension period and is providing value for money.

Request to waive contract procedure rules in respect of a CCTV maintenance, repairs and 24 hour call out service, to be supplied by ESS.
A new supplier was appointed from 1/7/2019. Response times have not always been in line with specification/contract. Despite meetings to try to resolve the issues, the supplier has confirmed that they are unable to respond within the contracted call-out response.
Contract to be terminated by notice to take effect from 30/11/2019.

That contract procedure rules be waived in respect of direct award to ESS, to take effect from 1/12/2019 for a period of 18 months at an annual cost of £95,000.

Reason - The usual procurement process cannot be followed due to lack of time to conduct a competitive process. ESS are a locally based company having previously held the contract and can commence taking over contract with effect from 1/12/2019 providing the service required within the response times needed. Costs have been benchmarked as value for money, contract to be awarded on Council standard terms.

Approval to grant Wayleave through Darlington Borough Council land at Forcett Street, Darlington to enable a new electricity supply at the rear of a property in West Auckland Road, Darlington.

An approach has been made to Darlington Borough Council to grant a Wayleave across Darlington Borough Council owned land at 1-10 Forcett Street, Darlington to lay a new 3m length cable to supply electricity to a property in West Auckland Road.

To grant a Wayleave across Council land at Forcett Street, Cockerton, Darlington.
Reason - To enable a business premises in Cockerton Darlington to continue to thrive by having a suitable modern electric supply available.

Approval to grant Wayleave through Darlington Borough Council land to the rear of Nestfield Street, Darlington to enable a new electricity supply at Barton Street, Darlington.
An approach has been made to Darlington Borough Council to grant a Wayleave across Darlington Borough Council owned land at the rear of Nestfield Street, Darlington to allow a new electricity supply to industrial units at 7 Barton Street, Darlington.

To grant a Wayleave across Council land to the rear of Nestfield Street, Darlington to enable an extension to a terrace industrial units at Barton Street to be constructed which will provide an additional business premises in this locality.
Reason - To enable a business premises in Cockerton Darlington to continue to thrive by having a suitable modern electric supply available.

Approval for the acquisition of four properties in Victoria Road and Pensbury Street, Darlington.
An opportunity has arisen for Darlington Borough Council in collaboration with Tees Valley Combined Authority, to acquire four properties at Victoria Road and Pensbury Street.

To acquire in collaboration with TVCA the vacant possession of four properties in Victoria Road/Pensbury Street.
Reason - In order to bring forward the Bank Top Project to help improve access to Bank Top Station including public transport interface areas, car parking and improved public realm.