This report set out a proposal for a new procurement initiative which sought to appoint a concessionaire under a concession contract.

The appointed concessionaire was to work with the Council as the contracting authority to design, market, and manage framework agreements for use by the Council and other contracting authorities.

The framework agreements covered:

1. Construction Works (with or without Lots), and

2. Developer Led Projects (with or without Lots) The Council intended to appoint the concessionaire by the end of March 2025 to design and set up both frameworks with anticipated award dates of Q2 2026.

Members were informed that a procurement exercise allowed the implementation of a new procurement initiative to appoint a concessionaire under the Concession Contracts Regulations 2016 (the “Concessionaire”) to work with the Council as the contracting authority to design, market and manage framework agreements for use by both the Council and other contracting authorities such as local authorities, police and fire authorities, universities, NHS Trusts etc.

The initiative was expected to be income generating based on a commercial model that will make the concession contract financially viable for both the concessionaire and the Council. The concessionaire would not receive any consideration or payment from the Council for any of the services to be delivered under the contract. The precise detail of the commercial arrangements were not established as the concessionaire had yet to be appointed.

Members welcomed recommendation 2 which requested that the Director of Finance bring a further report to Members which was to set out the results of evaluation of the bids for a concessionaire. Members were also informed that the initiative was expected to be income generating based on a commercial model which made the concession contract financially viable for both the concessionaire and the Council. Members also queried the legal costs to set up the Concessionaire, how the delivery and management partner would support small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

Resolved –

1.  to agree to a process to appoint a concessionaire who will work with the Council and specifically the Director of Finance reporting to the finance working group to design, market, and manage framework agreements commence as follows:

(a) Construction Works (with or without Lots), and

(b) Developer Led Projects (with or without Lots) as referred to in paragraph 1.1 of this report.

2.  That the Director of Finance be requested to bring a further report to Members which sets out the results of evaluation of the bids for a concessionaire for the concession contract to deliver the frameworks referred to in recommendation 1.

3.  That further steps that will need to be undertaken, post the decision to appoint the concessionaire which will include:

a. Commencement of the procurement processes to appoint contractor, developer and professional services suppliers to the frameworks, and

b. Evaluation submissions and make appointments further to the processes referred to at recommendation 2(b).

c. That the Director of Law and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Director of Finance, will need to be authorised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80