Windows and other work to landings on Molewood Close

The request was successful.

Dear Cambridge City Council,

Leaseholders of Molewood and Hazelwood Close Cambridge have been consulted about enclosing the communal passageway that leads from the top of the stairs to the upstairs flats.

In a previous FOI request Martin Donnelly provided quotes and an explanation of this work. The FOI reply is available to view here: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/a...

However, in a meeting for leaseholders held on Wednesday 29th January, leasholders were informed that:
- the work to rip out the staircase rails will no longer go ahead, thus reducing the cost they are expected to pay.
- a range of alternatives to the wood panels currently in place had been explored.

Please could you provide:

- the revised quotes for the proposed works.

- any research into alternative materials for the wood panels currently in place and any costs obtained for these alternatives.

- the drawings/schematics for the planned work.

- the full breakdown of the new costs obtained by the Kier Group.

- the revised health and safety assessments that lead to the newly proposed work.

Yours faithfully,

Lisa Evans

Sharon Line, Cambridge City Council

Dear Ms Evans

I acknowledge receipt of your request for information on 'Molewood and Hazelwood Close' under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. In accordance with the Act we will send you the information within 20 working days i.e., by 28 February.

Regards

Sharon Line

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Sharon Line, Cambridge City Council

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Dear Ms Evans

In your Freedom of Information Request received on 31 January, you asked for the following information relating to Molewood and Hazelwood Close, Cambridge. Our answers to your questions are in bold below:

In a meeting for leaseholders held on Wednesday 29th January, leasholders were informed that:
- the work to rip out the staircase rails will no longer go ahead, thus reducing the cost they are expected to pay.
- a range of alternatives to the wood panels currently in place had been explored.

Please could you provide:

- the revised quotes for the proposed works.
Four quotes attached for the revised works from; Chisholm & Winch (who will be carrying out the works) and others from Survey Roofing & Construction, CBT Electrical & Building Ltd, and Jewel Property Maintenance.

- any research into alternative materials for the wood panels currently in place and any costs obtained for these alternatives.
We considered various materials, metal panels of different types and for other plastic based wood substitutes, as discussed at the Leasehold Meeting on 29 January 2014. We had to take into consideration finish, durability, maintenance and cost. The timber solution we arrived at seemed the best balance because, we were able to leave in place the majority of the existing timber rails. This option saved a lot of money and allowed us to install new vented PVCu glazed panels to the landing openings, where there are currently exposed timber rails that are affected by the weather and are rotten in a lot of places. This also had the added benefit of improving the quality of the building for residents on the first floor. Some residents complained about wind driven rain coming into the landings at the first meeting in December.

- the drawings/schematics for the planned work.
None available. The new additional PVCu glazed screens will be similar in design to the ones that already in place on the landings. The existing timber stairs balustrading/railings will remain in place, but will have additional 41mm X 41mm timber spindles screwed to the outside of the existing timber railings leaving no gaps on the staircase guarding bigger than 100mm.

- the full breakdown of the new costs obtained by the Kier Group.
Quotes attached.

- the revised health and safety assessments that lead to the newly proposed work.
The revised works meet the same HHSRS standards as provided in the previous FOI information supplied by myself, it's just a more cost effective solution which is much cheaper and allows the Council to upgrade the weather proofing on the landings.

If you are not happy with the way in which your request has been dealt with please contact Mr Bob Hadfield, Head of Estates and Facilities. You may also contact the Information Commissioner if you are still not happy with the way your request has been dealt with. The Information Commissioner's address is:

Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Regards

Sharon Line
Cambridge City Council

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Dear Sharon Line,

Thank you for this reply. However I am not happy with the answer to my request for:

- any research into alternative materials for the wood panels currently in place and any costs obtained for these alternatives.

I was referring to the wood panels that are on the balcony as well as the wooden rails in the stairways. You have only provided an answer for alternatives to replacing the wooden rails on the stairs. I want to know about alternatives to the replacing the wood on the balcony area. You have listed PVCu as the only option.

In the leaseholder meeting in December there was a specific request to look into alternatives to PVCu, and to look into the costs of replacing the wood on the balcony. Please could you provide evidence this research took place and provide details of costs?

Also please could you provide evidence that some residents complained about wind driven rain coming into the landings in the meeting in December?

Apologies if the email should be addressed to Mr Bob Hadfield, but you have not provided his contact details.

Yours sincerely,

Lisa Evans

Sharon Line, Cambridge City Council

Dear Ms Evans

Thank you for your e-mail regarding our response to your Freedom of Information request, and please accept my apologies for omitting to include Mr Hadfield's contact details in that response.

I have now forwarded your e-mail on to Mr Hadfield at [email address] who will be in touch with you in due course.

Regards

Sharon

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Martin Donnelly, Cambridge City Council

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Dear Lisa,

Please see the attached details from KIER regarding other materials and costs of, that we considered as replacements for the timber panels/planks across the brickwork openings on the landings.

The leaseholder who said that he would like the first floor balcony openings screened at the first meeting on 10/12/13, was a Mr Abra at 126 Molewood Close.

I hope that this information satisfactorily answers your questions. The observation period for leaseholders comments is now closed and the Council has ordered the works with KIER Services Ltd. The stairwells HHSRS works will commence on Monday 10/3/14 at blocks 29-30 and 33-36 Hazelwood Close.

Yours sincerely,

Martin

M. Donnelly

Principal Surveyor
Planned Maintenance
Estates & Facilities

Tel: 01223 458543

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Dear Martin Donnelly,

That is very nice that you provided me with the costs of alternatives to the stair banisters again. However that is not what I asked for. I asked for the research you did into alternatives to the "vented PVCu glazed panels to the landing openings, where there are currently exposed timber rails". Did look into any alternative materials other than vented PVCu glazed panels for these areas?

Yours sincerely,

Lisa Evans

Dear Martin Donnelly,

Thank you for sending this through. I see on closer reading you have answered the question I asked.

Yours sincerely,

Lisa Evans