Decision details

To update Members on the overall progress with the Daedalus Investment project and to seek approval for governance arrangements including setting up a Project Member Working Group and certain delegations of authority to ensure that the project can proceed within the agreed timescales.

In July 2013 the Executive supported a proposal to provide improvements to the airfield, provision of new hangar space and an Innovation Centre for small businesses at the Solent Enterprise Zone, Daedalus.  Subsequently, at its last meeting on 7 October 2013, the Executive agreed revised funding arrangements for the project. 

Overall, the project contains some very challenging timescales.  Principally among these is the need to complete the Innovation Centre by March 2015.  Work has already commenced on initial design work and a procurement process to appoint a Design and Build contractor and other professional consultants with a view to a start on site in May 2014.

Specification and design work on the airfield improvements is underway and work is scheduled to take place between March and June 2014.  Preparatory works will also be undertaken to the secondary runway to allow its use during works to the main runway.

Negotiations are underway concerning the location of the new hangar and the timing of its construction with the Homes And Communities Agency (HCA).  The nature of its specification and design will be sufficiently flexible to ensure its’ suitably for the length of its useful life, but initially will be guided to a certain extent on the outcome of a pre-letting marketing approach.

The report sets out a proposed decision making structure for the project, including the setting up of a member Working Group.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)       agrees the governance and decision-making structure as set out in Appendix A to the report;

(b)       delegates authority to the Director of Finance and Resources to:

i.          appoint a Quantity Surveyor and Construction Project Manager for the project;

ii.         conclude land transactions within the Enterprise Zone, sufficient to enable construction to be undertaken;

iii.        formally sign off the final design specification for the built assets;

iv.        award the construction contracts for the three project elements, to the most economically advantageous bidder, using previously agreed award criteria; and

v.         award the contract for operate the Innovation Centre;

with all above listed delegations being subject to the costs being contained within the overall budget available for the project and, in relation to iii, iv and v above, only following consultation with the Project Member Working Group with all decisions being reported retrospectively to the Executive; and

(c)       confirms the composition of the Project Member Working Group as Councillor T M Cartwright (Chairman), Councillor Mrs K Mandry, Councillor M J Ford, JP and Councillor J S Forrest.