Agenda item

                 Report of the Chief Executive to follow.

Reason for taking item in private:

Paragraph 3 - information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for MCI, Economic Development, Heritage, Arts, Tourism and Health & Wellbeing confirmed that his item was being considered outside of the 28 days notice of the Cabinet Forward Plan, so that an urgent decision could be taken by the Cabinet in relation to the proposals contained in the report and that additional funding is released to complete the project. The Leader explained that this had been undertaken with the approval of both Cllr Stuart Wheeler, Chair of the Council and Cllr Graham Wright, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee in accordance with the procedures set out in the Council’s Constitution.

a)    Porton Science Park – Further Fit Out

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for MCI, Economic Development, Heritage, Arts, Tourism and Health & Wellbeing presented the report which (i) provided detail about discussions with an existing tenant requested use of a portion of the first floor Grow-On Space at the Council’s new Phase 2 Collaborative Innovation Centre at Porton Science Park, and (ii) sought approval for the Council to carry out fitting out works to the Grow On Space to facilitate early uptake of this space.

Questions were received from Karen Crawford. The Leader acknowledged that the questions had received written responses which had been published on the Council’s website prior to the meeting.

In response to a question raised by Cllr Laura Mayes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills, Officers confirmed that works of this nature had been undertaken previously for another existing tenant

Cllr Jerry Kunkler requested that details of the project should also considered by the Environment Select Committee as the project progressed. Cllr Pip Ridout confirmed that the Financial Planning Task Group had considered this issue at a previous Task Group meeting. 

Resolved:

1.    To agree that the Council undertakes the fit out of the Grow On Space at the Porton Collaborative Innovation Centre subject to the Council first entering into an Agreement for Lease with the existing tenant, or such other document or documents as are required to ensure repayment of the fit out works;

2.    To delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Commercial Development (in consultation with the Legal Services, Procurement and the section 151 Officer as appropriate and the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Development, MCI and Communications and Cabinet Member for Finance, Procurement and Commercial Investment) to enter into an agreement for lease, lease and such other legal document(s) (including any contracts for carrying out of the said fitting out works) as are required to give effect to the proposal set out in (1) above; and

3.    allocate £0.53 million from other capital schemes, to be confirmed, to cover the estimated costs of the fit out works in the 2021/22 capital programme.

Reason for Decision:

To support an existing tenant looking to expand into the Grow-on space and thereby secure a tenant from the outset of opening the new Phase 2 building; generating income and helping to promote the remainder of the building and the wider science park.

b)    Porton Science Park – Phase Two Affordability Gap

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for MCI, Economic Development, Heritage, Arts, Tourism and Health & Wellbeing presented the report (i) seeking authority to enter into a formal construction contract; update on the confirmed cost of delivery and affordability gap arising from cost trends in the current construction market; and (ii) to secure additional funding for the capital costs of building the centre; and provide an update revenue projection for the centre’s initial years of operation.

In response to a question raised by Cllr Simon Jacobs about costs and costs inflation, the Leader confirmed that costs with the construction company would be fixed.

In response to a question from Cllr Clare Cape about the possibility of funds being diverted from existing capital schemes, officers confirmed that this would not be the case, as capital funding was being reallocated but not from any specific projects.

Resolved:

1.    To delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Commercial Development (in consultation with the Legal Services and the section 151 Officer) to enter into a construction Contract – specifically NEC3 Engineering & Construction Contract 2013 (Option A); and

2.    To allocate £0.75 million from other capital schemes, to be confirmed, to cover the current affordability gap in the 2021/22 capital programme

Reason for Decision:

·       To provide additional funding to cover the building costs, fees and meet environmental requirements

·       To ensure we can make use of the contractors fixed price

·       Following payment of stage one, proceed to the second stage of the Construction Contract and build the Collaborative Research and Innovation Centre

·       To progress delivery of Porton Science Park, in partnership with SWLEP, MHCLG and campus partners Dstl and PHE.