Hebweb news 2006: Tendering for sculptures and sundial

Tendering for sculptures and sundial
- Calderdale's response

Friday, 22 December 2006

The Hebden Bridge Web has received anonymously details of information requested from Calderdale Council under the Freedom of Information Act. The information has been provided by Nigel Pickles, the Council's "Network Manager"

The following questions were posed in respect of the stone sculptures and the fustian sundial in Georges Square, Hebden Bridge

Where and when were the 'Invitations to Tender' published?
Which individuals / organizations I companies responded to this invitation?
Who was short-listed and on what criteria?
On what criteria was the tender issued to the final supplier?
What is the final cost of the stone obelisks and fustian sundial?

No 'Invitations to Tender' were published for the bollards, as the work was well below the value required for tenders to be put out under the Council's contract procedure rules.

With respect to the "Fustian Needle gnomon", an 'invitation to tender' for the manufacture of the will be placed after Christmas in local publications and Arts journals.

In answer to questions 3 and 4, a local stone mason/ sculptor, Michael Williams, was commissioned for the bollard work. "Mr. Williams had previously won a tender with the Council for similar work and the quality/ cost of that work was considered to be excellent value for money. In addition, he is Hebden Bridge based, which gave a strong local context and extensive local knowledge. It was felt that this would offer an excellent opportunity to commission work that was informed, locally relevant and produced to a high quality. Mr Williams has a post graduate diploma in Bronze works to complement his stone carving skills and was well placed to offer preliminary advice on the production of the gnomon. Manufacture of the gnomon is yet to be tendered."

Mr Pickles explains that the Sundial paved face was designed in-house, and the bench surround to the gnomon will be fabricated in-house at the Rochdale Canal workshops.

The cost of the bollards was £5,000 sculpture fee. Locally quarried stone for the bollards was supplied by the Council, a cost of £1,000.

It is anticipated that the gnomon will cost in the region of £15,000, but the actual figure will of course depend on the outcome of the tendering process. The cost of the sundial detail paving is approximately £5,000.