Decision details

At budget Council held on 7th March 2016 an indicative sum of £900,000 was approved, subject to completion of a full options / feasibility appraisal to determine the final scope and cost options for the total scheme. In order to progress this and ensure delivery of the project as a main Council plan priority discussions have taken place with Nottingham City Council's Major Projects Team (following a decision and report to the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee) and they have been successful in becoming the Councils Project Managers for this work. Public consultation is currently taking place with those frequenting the park and users more broadly to seek their feedback exactly what facilities should be included in the visitor centre offer - this has proved to be very successful. The Project Managers have advised that only a design and build option will deliver a visit centre within reasonable a time frame and in view of the huge popularity of the park itself (which continues to increase month on month) there is a degree of urgency to have a building on site to met this customer expectation and demand. The SCAPE Framework itself it is set up and established for use by Local Authorities to access and use with 'value for money' have been tested at every stage, therefore I am satisfied that those companies that are awarded contracts within the framework have been through robust testing processes to ensure they provide VFM to clients. The purpose of this decision report is there for to record my decision to: 1. approve the use of the SCAPE framework agreement to deliver this particular design and build project. 2. approve the spend against the approved budget of £96,084,.54 to enable the SCAPE approved contractors, GF Tomlinson to undertake the pre construction works needed. 3. on the Council's behalf write to appoint GF Tomlinson, in accordance with the CDM regulations of 2015 to formally advising them that we consider them to be the Principal Contractor for the project. 4. appoint Nottingham City Councils internal specialist team to undertake for GBC the functions of Quantity Surveying, contract administration and our client CDM obligations.

The purpose of this decision report is there for to record my decision to: 1. approve the use of the SCAPE framework agreement to deliver this particular design and build project. 2. approve the spend against the approved budget of £96,084,.54 to enable the SCAPE approved contractors, GF Tomlinson to undertake the pre construction works needed. 3. on the Council's behalf write to appoint GF Tomlinson, in accordance with the CDM regulations of 2015 to formally advising them that we consider them to be the Principal Contractor for the project. 4. appoint Nottingham City Councils internal specialist team to undertake for GBC the functions of Quantity Surveying, contract administration and our client CDM obligations.

The Country Park was opened to the public in March 2015 after an 18 month construction programme costing over 1 million pounds - it has proved hugely popular with local residents and visitors from outside of Gedling Borough. It is used by sightseers / walkers / runners and environmentalists. Over whelming feedback is that a Heritage and Cultural Visitor Centre is required as a priority. Developing these facilities is now a Council priority and it a commitment within the current Council Plan. The only realistic approach to deliver a visitor centre building with café and toilet facilities is through a design and build programme and this needs external Project Management expertise. Nottingham City Council have been appointed to undertake that role and have advised that as we have signed up to the SCAPE Framework Agreement we use this to appoint contractors and progress with the design and build project. The decisions taken have been so to facilitate the next stage of the Project - that being the Pre Construction design stage.

The only viable option for the Council considered as an alternative was to follow a traditional building procurement model and do this with our in house team who have experience of builds of this size and value. The principle disadvantage of this model is that the time frame for delivery becomes unacceptable to the Council because of public demand and expectation. The Council view the build as being a significant priority for park users and visitors so this option has been rejected.