To provide an update on Houghton Hall Park Renaissance and Renewal project and seek approval to delegate the authority for the award of contracts for landscape restoration works and construction of a visitor centre at Houghton Hall Park, Houghton Regis.

To authorise the Director for Community Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Corporate Resources and the Executive Member for Community Services, to award the contracts for Houghton Hall Park Renaissance and Renewal project in order to facilitate time critical landscape works ahead of the bird nesting season.

The Executive received a report of the Executive Member for Community Services seeking delegated authority for the  award of contracts for the landscape restoration works and the construction of a visitor centre at Houghton Hall Park, Houghton Regis.

The Executive was advised that the nesting season would start soon and landscape works should not be carried out during that period, which extended over approximately six months.

Reason for decision: The contract values were in excess of £500,000 and would therefore normally be awarded by the Executive. Delegation of authority to award the contracts would enable them to commence soon after approval by HLF Board in mid-February. This was preferable to waiting until the Executive meeting in April for contract approval, following which there would be 6 months of delay to avoid impacting on birds during their nesting period.

RESOLVED

to authorise the Director for Community Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Corporate Resources and the Executive Member for Community Services, to award the contracts for the Houghton Hall Park Renaissance and Renewal project in order to facilitate time-critical landscape works ahead of the bird nesting season.