Decision details

To agree the appointment of Herringbone Restoration Ltd to undertake role of Principal Contractor to complete church wall repairs under the guidance of heritage schedule of works to the sum of £193,127.00

The Council assumed responsibility for the safe and effective management of the church land as determined in law when the Parochial Parish Council declared the churchyard closed to future burials many years ago.

A local resident recently raised a safety risk regarding a crumbling wall.  FDC commissioned an assessment of the walls and found that the entire Church wall needed addressing as a H&S concern. The funding of such work falls on the local authority, despite the Church retaining ownership of the wall.

The project delivery has been undertaken in compliance with Council’s Code of Procurement and was subject to a competitive national tender exercise, of which 4 contractors were scored.

This work is specialist conservation works and not the remediation of modern standard brick-built wall – hence the high cost.

Decision:

The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Military Covenant, Policing, Emergency Planning, Cemeteries, Traveller Site Pitch, Street Pride, Street Naming & Numbering, Safety Advisory Group and Freedom Leisure to approve appointment of Herringbone Restoration Ltd to repair the St Andrews church walls in Whittlesey to the value of £193,127.00.

A condition survey of the wall was undertaken highlighting risk of failure.

The Council’s Code of Procurement detailed that a national competitive tender would be required instead of a direct award. This was done and 4 contractors were scored with Herringbone winning this exercise.

The neighbour resident who originally raised the safety complaint is being kept informed during the process.

The front roadside wall was previously repaired due to the risk of collapse onto the public pathway used by the children at the local school. The remainder of the repairs were originally planned to be reviewed with the 2026/27 budget, but the poor state of the wall and risk identified has meant this was brought.