Cabinet, at its meeting on 13 April 2022, considered a report on concrete and guard rail repairs to balcony walkways and access stairs at Blackbird Leys and resolved to:

1.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Communities and People) to award the concrete repairs contract to suppliers following completion of the procurement competitive closed compliant tender process described in the report.

The Cabinet report and minutes can be found here.

To award a contract to JB Specialist Refurbishments Ltd, using the structural repairs budget, to carry out concrete and guardrail repair works to the following five apartment blocks to Blackbird Leys: 22-48 Strawberry Path, Oxford, OX4 6RA, 1-43 Starwort Path, OX4 6RN, 28-55 Druce Way, OX4 6TJ, 85 -139 Field Avenue OX4 6PB, and 31-58 Warburg Crescent OX4 6BS.

A Find a Tender compliant tender process was run on the South East Business Portal, reference DN618971. A total of six tenders were received.  Following assessment of evaluation scores, clarification interview and financial checks, the preferred submission was determined to be from JB Specialists Refurbishment Ltd for the sum of £1,194,346.81.

The decision will enable the urgent repair works to be carried out, which will ensure there is continued safe access to the blocks and that they remain habitable.

The option not to carry out the repairs was rejected as the defects which have been identified to the delaminated concrete and the corrosion to the handrails require urgent repairs. 

Decision taken by Stephen Gabriel, Executive Director (Communities and People) in consultation with Nerys Parry, Head of Housing Services.