Decision details

Yorkshire Water is the statutory undertaker who own the water main, ducting and drainage in the footway on Old Mill Lane in Barnsley. To accommodate the works, the water main requires diverting in the footpath and carriageway. Yorkshire Water has provided a C4 detailed cost estimate and requires an order to be raised for £613,334.58 prior to further discussing the arrangements with the main contractor. This figure includes the full 18% discount in accordance with the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, which outlines cost sharing for measures necessary where apparatus is affected by highway works. Yorkshire Water will not proceed with the works without an order raised for the estimated value.

An allowance for these works is included in the project cost plan based on a budget estimate of £364,290.00, provided in 2021.

Yorkshire Water have confirmed that the reason for the large increase is as a result of inflation and an increased extent of the works following a full site survey.

This revised cost does not result in the current budget being exceeded although it does put pressure on the risk/contingency allowance.

A copy of the revised detailed estimate from Yorkshire Water is available upon request and it should be noted that the costs are fully refundable, if for some reason the work not go ahead. The costs are also adjustable and may reduce if the works prove to be less extensive than originally proposed.

Yorkshire Water has stated that the works are non-contestable, and as they are a sole supplier, it is not possible to look for an alternative provider. Whilst being non-contestable, we strongly believe that there are items in the quote that are not required, e.g., traffic management, a site compound and storage and therefore, we fully intend to ensure that the cost of these items will be deducted from their final account.

Approved

Reject the quote. As Yorkshire Water are the sole provider of these works, the scheme would have to be abandoned as would be impossible to continue the project. This would also result in considerable abortive costs.

Accept the quote. This will allow the project to proceed as planned.