This decision was delegated to officers under Part 4.4 of the Council’s Constitution: all executive functions except the ones in Part 4.5 and 4.6 are delegated to the officers in the senior management structure.

To commission Meristem Design to design and supply steel planters, benches and plants up to the value of £35,000 for Market Street public realm improvements, delivered under an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) (subject to Oxfordshire County Council approval in March 2024).  This commission is grant funded via the government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.

The decision allows for the furniture required for the scheme to be designed and manufactured according to the specific requirements of the street in time to meet the deadline of April/May 2024 delivery as part of the ETRO.  This timeline will avoid works disruption running into the summer months (with associated higher footfall) and enable the opportunity to maximise the benefits of the ETRO trial period during the warmer months.

A tender process was considered but rejected due to the delay that would be caused to scheme delivery and associated potential impact on footfall and trade for the Covered Market. The skills and experience of the provider are recognised as being able to supply a complete package including suitable planting supported by a proven track record of relevant experience.

Decision taken by Carolyn Ploszynski, Head of Regeneration and Economy.