Decision

The Corporate Director of Housing and Adults Social Care has decided to waive a section of the Council's Contract Standing Orders to directly award a contract for Fire Strategies and Fire Compartmentation Surveys.

Analysis

outcome: The decision was to approve the waiver and award the contract to Keegans at a total cost of £164,672.25.

summary: The decision involves waiving a section of the Council's Contract Standing Orders to directly award a contract for Fire Strategies and Fire Compartmentation Surveys.

topline: The Corporate Director of Housing and Adults Social Care has decided to waive a section of the Council's Contract Standing Orders to directly award a contract for Fire Strategies and Fire Compartmentation Surveys.

reason_contentious: This issue may be contentious as it involves a direct award of a contract without a competitive bidding process, which could raise concerns about transparency and fairness.

affected_stakeholders: ["Council", "Keegans", "Housing and Adults Social Care department"]

contentiousness_score: 7

political_party_relevance: There are no mentions or implications of political parties or political influence on the decision.

URL: https://moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=10026

Decision Maker: Corporate Director: Housing and Adults Social Care

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: This report recommends a waiver to the Council’s Contract Standing Orders Section 17.2(a) to permit the direct award of a contract to Keegans for the completion of Fire Strategies and Type 2 Fire Compartmentation Surveys. These documents form a key evidentiary requirement for the Council to develop Building Safety Case Reports under the Building Safety Act 2022. The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has given Lambeth Council a six-month deadline to complete these tasks creating a significant statutory risk. The updated total contract value is £164,672.25. The project will be delivered in phases over several months and funded from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

Content: To approve a waiver to Section 17.2(a) of the Council’s Contract Standing Orders, permitting the direct award of a contract to Keegans to deliver retrospective Fire Strategies and Type 2 Fire Compartmentation Surveys at a total cost of £164,672.25, funded from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue budget. The project duration will be up to 12 months from estimated start date of 01 Sept 2025.  

Date of Decision: September 11, 2025