Decision details

Strategic Planning has been successful in its bid for the Proptech Engagement Fund (PEF), which requires the Council to trial new ways of engagement that integrate other emerging technologies (such as 3D Modelling and other Cloud based technologies). Following discussions with a number of possible providers, officers in the Strategic Planning team are confident that Commonplace is the only platform capable of meeting the majority of our requirements set out in the successful PEF bid.
In addition to this, following a recent trial of Commonplace as an engagement platform for Hemel Hempstead Town Centre a number of teams within the Council are interested in undertaking their own engagement exercises. These include:
Housing Development: The team wish to use the service to assist with local consultations on specific new build housing projects prior to submitting for planning approval.
Hemel Garden Communities: The team is planning a number of engagement and consultation surveys/heat map activities to engage with the community on the Vision, the Transport Plan and the Framework Plan.
Further discussions are due to take place with respect to extending timeframes and / or upgrading to a Corporate Licence. Such decisions are unlikely to be made in the short term and any further delay increases the risk of Strategic Planning failing to deliver on its PEF brief. For this reason the Departmental licences is being progressed in the short term, and to enable other teams to progress with their engagement exercises.
The G-Cloud framework (tendered by Crown Commercial Services) has already been through a competitive tendering process compliant with the Public Contract Regulations.
The Council will comply with the G-Cloud procurement process and issue an award notice once the contract is signed.

The approval to award a contract to Commonplace Digital Limited for:
Initially for a one year departmental contract, with the option to extend this up to 3 years total for a Departmental or Corporate licence (by a certificate signed by the Strategic Director- Place) as per G-Cloud pricing.

Following discussions with a number of possible providers, officers in the Strategic Planning team are confident that Commonplace is the only platform capable of meeting the majority of our requirements set out in the successful PEF bid.