Revising Licence Fee Payments HyNet
What was your advice here?
Current rate was below comparable schemes which was resulting in a low sign up rate, causing issues with delivery for surveys.
Advice reflected using comparable evidence from other NSIPs to increase the payment from £250 to £500 per landowner. This would go on to achieve a higher sign up rate.
Revising Licence Fee Payments HyNet
What were you clients objectives?
NI ACCESS REVIEW
How did you budget for the increase?
I presented information on the number of landowners we would need for surveys to sign up by reviewing all existing/potential licences over an 18 month period. Achieving 100% sign up would still come in under the £100,000 budget.
Revising Licence Fee Payments HyNet
Why would you want to add this higher cost to your client?
Benefits of project progression and landowner satisfaction outweighed the cost as there would be a reduced need for notice powers.
Revising Licence Fee Payments HyNet
What is a comparable?
Properties that are similar to the one being evaluated in terms of location, size, condition, and features. These properties are used to determine the fair market value of a subject property, either for sale, purchase, or appraisal purposes.
NI ACCESS REVIEWS
What were the detailed reporting systems you used and how do you use them?
NI ACCESS REVIEWS
What advice have you provided to improve the systems?
NI ACCESS REVIEWS
How do these reporting systems help mitigate risk for your client?
By providing up to date information specific to a land parcel and landowner, and presenting this on a consistent weekly basis, I was able to keep the client and their contractors well informed of hazards, and access instructions, reducing the risk of an error occurring.
AGREEING LEVEL OF FEES WITH CLIENT
What was in the client brief?
TOE would add CHP + PII + Due Diligence on client
AGREEING LEVEL OF FEES WITH CLIENT
What was the range of water projects involved you advised on the fees for?
AGREEING LEVEL OF FEES WITH CLIENT
What were the rates?
I didn’t negotiate the hourly rates myself, but supported the framework agreement which was reviewed for each project
Rates were up to:
- £160/hr Partner
- £140/hr 5 years more qualified
- £125/hr less than 5 years qualified
- £80 - Assistant or trainee
Rates were based on hours of surveyors time.
e.g. Boundary Park = GIS 10 hrs, Partner 15 hrs, Graduate x2 75 hrs, Surveyor = 25 hrs.
Also considered a compensation estimates based on the site.
AGREEING LEVEL OF FEES WITH CLIENT
What were client objectives?
FUTURE CROP LOSS RIVER MERSEY
Why did you negotiate without allowance for future crop loss?
FUTURE CROP LOSS RIVER MERSEY
How did this benefit your client?
NORTH LANCASHIRE OPTIONEERING
Why was it not possible to secure the site via negotiation?
Therefore CPO considered.
NORTH LANCASHIRE OPTIONEERING
What are the timescales involved with a CPO and how did this factor into your advice?
ACCESS FOR SURVEYS UNDER DCO IN ST HELENS
What was the agreement you proposed and why was the s172 notice served?
Licence was proposed for £500 for 12 months access
Notice was served as could not get the same survey info elsewhere
- Key crossing point for the project
- Site storage area
- Timescale constraints for the surveys (ecology, weather, crop in ground)
Serving notice entitles the landowner to losses incurred
ACCESS FOR SURVEYS UNDER DCO IN ST HELENS
What surveys were required?
Archaeology (Geophysics), ALC/peat surveys, badger surveys.
ACCESS FOR SURVEYS UNDER DCO IN ST HELENS
What if access was still refused following the s172 notice?
ACCESS FOR SURVEYS UNDER DCO IN ST HELENS
How would you seek a warrant?
GEOPHYSICS PENKETH
What were the health and safety standards of the client?
My client encourages all to challenge unsafe conditions and have the authority to stop work they think is unsafe. I am able to report health and safety issues, which will then be addressed.
In this case, the standards were issuing RAMS prior by the contractor. I also constructed a risk assessment prior to going to site.
I carried out a dynamic risk assessment when on site.
GEOPHYSICS PENKETH
What due diligence did you do?
Raised that weather conditions were poor and to await further instruction.
Inspected the land myself with the appropriate PPE to see if the land was surveyable
I noted knee height water in the arable field, potential unseen hazards, the risk of land damage as a result of the survey.
GEOPHYSICS PENKETH
What mitigation did you advise on?
Alongside archaeologist, I reviewed land parcels which could be used as alternatives across the wider project - and went out to inspect them from the roadside.
I was able to advise on the quickest and most cost effective land parcels to access in the wet conditions (i.e. non-arable, well drained, easy access) but also on landowner relationships.
VALET AREA BOUNDARY PARK
How did you measure the site?
Using a measuring wheel, I measured the fixed area.
I then assessed suitable locations within the site, following consultation with the landowner. I measured multiple areas before deciding the most reasonable for the works and the landowner would be the area to the north of the site.