Agenda and minutes

Phil Gill, Greenspaces Manager, to report

-  to request exemption from Standing Orders.

In accordance with Standing Order 38.2, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Greenspaces Manager, seeking exemption from Contract Standing Orders to allow an order to be placed with a Conservation Architect to produce a Conservation Statement to accompany the Heritage Lottery Fund application for the restoration and development of Boston Castle.

Reference was made to the revised procedures of the Heritage Lottery Fund and to the need for a Conservation Statement to accompany the Stage 1 application.

The architect practices that had been approached were listed in the report.

It was reported that initial analysis had reduced the number to two conservation architect practices considered suitable to carry out this work, and details of the comparison of prices submitted were set out in the report.

In addition it was pointed out that the recommended architect practice could also produce the Conservation Management Plan which would be required following the Stage 1 decision.  The additional cost of this was noted and it was anticipated that the HLF Stage 1 allocation, if granted, would contribute to the development costs.

It was explained that the urgency was due to the need to submit a funding application, including the Conservation Statement, to the Heritage Lottery Fund to meet 8^th September, 2008 deadline.

The cost of the production of the Conservation Statement would be funded from the Council’s Capital Programme.

Resolved:-  That, in accordance with Standing Order 38.2, approval be given for exemption from Contract Standing Order 47.6.3, and an order be placed with Purcell, Miller and Tritton for the production of a Conservation Statement to accompany the Heritage Lottery Fund Stage 1 application in respect of Boston Castle, and the commissioning of the Conservation Management Plan to be developed for the Stage 2 submission.