URL: https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=6248

Decision Maker: Assistant Director: Property and Investment

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: Award of Schedule of Rates Contract for planned, reactive and emergency Asbestos Removal, Encapsulation and Associated Works, to buildings owned by Wirral Borough Council or in which the Council has an interest

Content: Following authority to commence a compliant procurement exercise granted by the Assistant Director of Property and Investment in the Officer Decision Notice (ODN) dated 20th August 2025 the Assistant Director of Property and Investment has approved the award of a contract, the Asbestos Removal and Encapsulation Works Schedule of Rates Contract, for a period of 2 years with the option to extend for a further year on two occasions to Envirocall Ltd (Company Number 02290784) as the Most Economically Advantageous Tenderer pursuant to a  mini competition conducted via Lot 10 (Surveys, Testing and Treatments) of the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation Dynamic Procurement System 882 (Building Internal Fit-out and Maintenance). The scope of the contract is the undertaking of planned preventive maintenance, reactive repairs and emergency repairs in relation to the Council's land and property with an estimated contract value of £720,000 over a period of four years. The Council has a large portfolio of assets the age of which means that they could contain Asbestos materials that require removal and/or encapsulating on discovery, including planned, reactive and emergency work. Ensuring that the Council has the ability to appoint contractors to do this work is an essential step to take.   Presently the Facilities Management team provide planned and reactive maintenance services for the Council's land and property either directly or on behalf of the Council's service areas. In addition, the Council is implementing a Corporate Landlord Model, whereby ultimately this team will be responsible for the maintenance of Council owned land and buildings in the future, excepting schools, which have differing management arrangements. The Council's property portfolio is comprised of a mixture of operational and non-operational assets, ranging from offices and publicly accessed venues, commercial and retail properties and assets held for regeneration and schools.   The Council has a statutory duty to ensure that its assets comply the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974  and associated Regulations.   The award of the new asbestos removal and encapsulation contract will allow the Council's Facilities Management team to deliver asbestos removal and encapsulation services, emergency repairs, reactive repairs, and planned preventative maintenance work on the Council's land and property portfolio. This includes minor capital maintenance works.   There is not a do-nothing option. The Council needs to have a contract in place as the Council has a statutory duty to ensure that its assets comply with relevant Health and Safety legislation.   The Council could look to let individual pieces of work on a case-by-case basis. This would present a significant challenge to administer, significantly increase the cost of administration and would not be satisfactory for certain works, for example emergency call outs. Not commissioning would generate significant challenges to the Facilities Management team, impacting its operational effectiveness, in provision of works and would have significant implications for the operation of the Council's property portfolio, which may lead to asset non availability or Health and Safety implications.   The Council could explore other options, for example outsourcing models, however there is a requirement for a contract to be in place now to enable delivery of works and any development of a proposal for outsourcing would need to be properly developed, so the best outcome for the Council could be achieved and the contract mobilised.  

Date of Decision: April 1, 2026