Decision - Urgent Work for Incoming & Lateral Electrical Mains Replacement in Council Housing

Brighton and Hove Cabinet Decided 22 Jan 2026 approved Key decision GET /api/coverage

Decision maker

Cabinet

Report author

Martin Reid

Published

23 Jan 2026

Reference

7562

As published

the council's own words, unedited

This report seeks approval to delegate authority to procure and direct award contracts to specialist contractors to carry out urgent upgrade and replacement works to the electrical power supply, rising and lateral mains, at six identified high-rise residential council blocks.

1) That the Cabinet agrees to delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Homes and Adult Social Care, in consultation with the Cabinet member for Housing, to award contracts to carry out electrical work as described below with an estimated total contract value of £1.5m:- 2) To award a contract to GB Electrical essential works to rising and lateral electrical mains, and evacuation & refuge systems at Wiltshire House with a total contract value as set out in Part 2 of this report; 3) To award a contract to GB Electrical essential works to rising and lateral electrical mains, and evacuation & refuge systems at Hereford Court with a total contract value as set out in Part 2 of this report; 4) To award a contract to the best value for money returning contractor, essential works to rising and lateral electrical mains, and evacuation & refuge systems at Warwick Mount; 5) To award a contract to the best value for money returning contractor, essential works to rising and lateral electrical mains, communal power & emergency lighting, at Viscaria (Bristol Estate); 6) To award a contract to the best value for money returning contractor, essential works to rising and lateral electrical mains, communal power & emergency lighting, at Cherry (Bristol Estate); and 7) To award a contract to the best value for money returning contractor, essential works to rising and lateral electrical mains, communal power & emergency lighting at Allamanda (Bristol Estate).

Parsed from the document

gpt-5.6-luna-2026-07-09 · 5924/1337 tokens · 11815ms · parsed 8 Sep 2026 11:38

Everything below was read out of a PDF by a model It is useful and it is not authoritative. The document it came from is linked in the rail, and where the two disagree the document is right.

Urgent electrical mains replacement and related fire-safety works are required at six high-rise council housing blocks because inspections identified a significant risk of power failure and wider safety impacts. The report seeks authority to appoint specialist contractors quickly, with the works estimated to cost £1.5 million.

Recommendation

Delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Homes and Adult Social Care, in consultation with the Cabinet member for Housing, to award contracts for urgent electrical works at six high-rise blocks: award contracts to GB Electrical for Wiltshire House and Hereford Court, and to the best value for money returning contractors for Warwick Mount, Viscaria, Cherry and Allamanda.

Financial impact

Estimated combined contract value of £1.5 million, funded initially from the HRA capital budget for electrical testing and compliance; potential funding contributions from UK Power Networks are under negotiation.

Ward affected

Whitehawk & Marina, Kemptown

Decision maker

Cabinet

Date in document

22 Jan 2026

Stakeholders named

parsed

Residents and vulnerable households in the six high-rise blocksLeaseholdersBrighton & Hove City CouncilUK Power Networks (UKPN)Building Safety RegulatorEast Sussex Fire & Rescue ServiceRegulator of Social HousingWard councillors

Next steps

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Delegate authority to award the urgent contracts and mobilise contractors as early as possible in 2026.
Undertake the electrical mains replacement, upgrade, evacuation and refuge system, communal power and emergency lighting works at the six blocks.
Submit required Building Safety Regulator and/or Building Control applications.
Continue negotiations with UK Power Networks regarding financial responsibility for the works.
Review the HRA capital programme at TBM09 and request budget variations if required.
Apply for dispensation from leaseholder consultation requirements and arrange resident meetings.

Precedents

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