Issue - meetings

1.  That the final design of the Cobtree Manor Estate Visitor Centre as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Cobtree Officer be approved.

2.  That G.A. Harpers Ltd. (Harpers), the winning tenderer under the tendering process conducted by the Council, as set out in exempt Appendix B to the report of the Cobtree Officer, be appointed to build the Visitor Centre.

3.  That the Head of Legal Services be authorised to complete an agreement with Harpers to this effect, and that the Cobtree Officer be given delegated authority to agree further details of the contract if needed in consultation with the Chairman of the Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee.

4.  That phase 3 (i.e. the Visitor Centre) of the Cobtree Master Plan Project be approved to commence and that the final amount of money (£371,226) be released for this purpose.

It should be noted that of this sum £300,000 is grant money received from the Cobtree Charity Trust Ltd (CCTL).  The £300,000 originally identified by Council Officers from the permanent endowment for the Master Plan project for the Visitor Centre will not be drawn down consequent on this grant from CCTL, subject to paragraph 5 below.

5.  That the following money from the original Visitor Centre budget of £300,000 be allocated to this the final phase of the project as additional items of expenditure:

£25,125 as a 7.5% contingency against the contract sum;

£12,000 to be spent on furniture for the café including new tables for inside and outside;

£22,000 for the kitchen fit out;

  £10,000 for high quality interpretation, including new signage, with the design of the interpretation being developed in consultation with CCTL;

£10,000 for additional security including new CCTV; and

  £15,000 for surfacing to extend the car park within Cobtree Manor Park to accommodate 60 extra spaces.

6.  That arrangements be made for Members to receive regular progress reports on the delivery of this project.

During the discussion on this item, the Officers undertook to review the detailed specification for the works having particular regard to sustainable construction installations.  Members reiterated the need to ensure that the Visitor Centre was delivered on time and within budget.

DECISION MADE:

1.  That the final design of the Cobtree Manor Estate Visitor Centre as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Cobtree Officer be approved.

2.  That G.A. Harpers Ltd. (Harpers), the winning tenderer under the tendering process conducted by the Council, as set out in exempt Appendix B to the report of the Cobtree Officer, be appointed to build the Visitor Centre.

3.  That the Head of Legal Services be authorised to complete an agreement with Harpers to this effect, and that the Cobtree Officer be given delegated authority to agree further details of the contract if needed in consultation with the Chairman of the Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee.

4.  That phase 3 (i.e. the Visitor Centre) of the Cobtree Master Plan Project be approved to commence and that the final amount of money (£371,226) be released for this purpose.

It should be noted that of this sum £300,000 is grant money received from the Cobtree Charity Trust Ltd (CCTL).  The £300,000 originally identified by Council Officers from the permanent endowment for the Master Plan project for the Visitor Centre will not be drawn down consequent on this grant from CCTL, subject to paragraph 5 below.

5.  That the following money from the original Visitor Centre budget of £300,000 be allocated to this the final phase of the project as additional items of expenditure:

£25,125 as a 7.5% contingency against the contract sum;

£12,000 to be spent on furniture for the café including new tables for inside and outside;

£22,000 for the kitchen fit out;

  £10,000 for high quality interpretation, including new signage, with the design of the interpretation being developed in consultation with CCTL;

£10,000 for additional security including new CCTV; and

  £15,000 for surfacing to extend the car park within Cobtree Manor Park to accommodate 60 extra spaces.

6.  That arrangements be made for Members to receive regular progress reports on the delivery of this project.

For further information regarding this decision, please follow this link:

http://services.maidstone.gov.uk/meetings/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?AIId=19078