Alarm Bells Ring Over Victoria Hall Oakham Renovation Tender 🔔

 Alarm Bells Ring Over Victoria Hall Oakham Renovation Tender 🔔

Victoria Hall Oakham October 2010

Oakham Town Council's recent decision to advertise for tenders to repair and refurbish the Grade II listed Victoria Hall in Oakham, Rutland, has sparked significant concern and confusion among locals and some councillors. A tender for the "Renovation - Victoria Hall Oakham" was published on October 9, 2025, with a stated contract value of between £10,000 and £20,000.

www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/68e765d3-f3a2-43e7-8383-f289627f4a59

Discrepancy in Project Scope and Value

The core issue lies in a major discrepancy between the advertised contract value and known professional estimates for the work. The tender, which is open until October 31, 2025, seeks contractors for the "phased refurbishment" and lists a substantial Scope of Works, including:

Roof repairs and associated structural works

Floor investigation and damp remediation

Toilet renovation and accessibility improvements

Window repair or replacement (in accordance with heritage requirements)

Guttering and rainwater goods repair/replacement

Internal upgrades and cosmetic improvements

Electrical Investigation

However, a recent survey seen by council members suggests that the full repairs and refurbishment of Victoria Hall could cost a staggering £300,000 to £400,000—significantly more than the £20,000 maximum value indicated in the tender.

The advert clarifies that the current phase (Procurement reference: VH1) is intended to be a "full and detailed fixed-cost exercise" to "assess the project's viability and inform subsequent funding and delivery stages," requiring the successful contractor to provide a comprehensive breakdown of works and a detailed fixed-cost schedule for each element. This suggests the £10,000–£20,000 is for the preparatory work, not the full construction.

Councillor Questions Council's Actions

Adding to the confusion is the assertion from some councillors that the full council has not yet resolved to seek renovation quotes and has not agreed to take on the massive renovation project itself.

Councillor Martin Brookes expressed his bewilderment, stating, "the council has agreed to appoint consultants with a budget set at a maximum amount of £20,000. The consultants would be instructed to find out what work is required and the potential risks the council may expose themselves to if they take over the ownership of Victoria Hall."

Cllr Brookes’ recollection is that the council's focus was on appointing expert consultants for a risk and scope assessment, not on soliciting quotes for actual renovation works. The council had also resolved to investigate moving its offices into the hall and instructed the office to appoint a solicitor to check a lease for longer than five years, but according to Cllr Brookes, "None of this agreed resolution has been carried out to date."

"It is my understanding Oakham Town Council should be seeking the services of consultants and not quotes for renovation at this stage," Cllr Brookes said. "I certainly have not attended any council meeting where the council has yet agreed to take on this huge renovation project."

Transparency and Next Steps

The tender procedure is listed as an "Open procedure (above threshold)" under the industry heading of Building construction work. It mandates that contractors must demonstrate experience working on heritage or listed buildings, with a preference for utilising local contractors. The contract is scheduled to run from December 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026.

The situation raises serious questions about the process of tendering and the adherence to council resolutions. Is the advertised tender an overreach by the Town Council's office, or is it a poorly worded attempt to secure the consultant-led scoping work that councillors agreed to?

Oakham Town Council must now clarify whether the tender is genuinely for preliminary scoping and fixed-cost exercises, or if it represents an unauthorised leap into a costly renovation project that the full council has not yet formally committed to undertaking. The considerable financial implications and the responsibility of taking over a Grade II listed building necessitate a transparent and properly authorised procurement process.