EXCLUSIVE: What’s in the North West Fire and Rescue Services PFI Contract?
During the 2014/15 audit I exercised a right as a local government elector in Merseyside to a copy of a contract that Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority has, which is a PFI contract for various fire stations on Merseyside.
It also involves Cumbria County Council and Lancashire Combined Fire Authority and is with Balfour Beatty Fire and Rescue NW Limited (but other companies and organisations are also involved).
The contract is the size of a DVD, so until a decision was made today here to increase the space for this blog I haven’t been able yet to publish it in full as it comes to many gigabytes of information. It falls within the "big data" journalism category because it is a collection of pdf files that are all multi-page images (hence the large file size).
When printed off it comes to three boxes worth of contract documentation (as pictured above). I hope to publish some of the associated invoices in the future too.
The contract was agreed at a behind closed doors meeting of the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority in 2010. Since then discussions about it at public meetings of the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority have also been held behind closed doors.
I’d like to make some brief points.
- The size, complexity and length of the contract makes it difficult to believe that councillors (whether on the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority or Lancashire Combined Fire Authority or Cumbria County Council) could have possibly fully understood it or its implications before agreeing to it.
However as councillors are accountable to you the public on Merseyside, here is a list of councillors who were at the meeting that agreed it Councillors Tony Newman (Chair), Jimmy Mahon, Dave Hanratty, Sharon Sullivan, Les Byrom, Colin Strickland, Robbie Ayres, Barbara Murray, Ted Grannell, Denise Roberts, Linda Maloney, Lesley Rennie, Gerry Ellis, Martyn Barber, Steve Niblock and Eddie Clein.
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The contract means Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority/Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service pay amounts to a private company over decades for its fire stations at a time when its overall budget is falling. Yes, the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority controlled by a Labour majority decided behind closed doors to privatise a chunk of a public service (whereas considering Labour’s trade union links you’d expect Labour to do the opposite and fight to keep services in the public sector wouldn’t you?)
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Ultimately it means taxpayer money from the council taxpayers on Merseyside (and money MFRA/MFRS receives from elsewhere) goes to fund the profits of a private company and the money was ultimately borrowed from foreign banks who pay any taxes on their profits abroad. So if they have to end up making cuts in the years to come to pay for the rising costs of this contract, it’s because of a decision they made in 2010 isn’t it (although let’s face it they’ll always try and blame any cuts on someone else such as the government)?
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The contract details employees transferred to a private company rather than working in the public sector.
So, I’ve made an editorial decision to publish it. In the interests of openness and transparency of course!
As there are many Ordnance Survey maps included in this contract, I am obliged to include the following: Contains OS data © [unknown database] Crown copyright 2015. You can read the Open Government Licence that Ordnance Survey makes its maps available under here.
Any other copyrights existing in the work, I have deemed fall under the exception in the copyright legislation as a copy has been provided to the public (myself) and I am acknowledging Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority as the source of the information.
It’s split into thirteen sections. In the interests of it making sense when you read it, I include a table of some of the parties and abbreviations used here.
Position | Parties | Abbreviation |
---|---|---|
Account Bank | Barclays Bank plc | Account Bank |
Arrangers | Dexia Crédit Local Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale | Arrangers |
Authorities | Cumbria County Council Lancashire Combined Fire Authority Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority | Authorities, each an “Authority” |
Construction Contractor | Mansell Construction Limited | Mansell |
Building Sub-Contractor | Border Construction Limited | Border |
Facility Agent | Dexia Crédit Local Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale | Facility Agent |
FM Contractor | Balfour Beatty Workplace Limited | BBW |
Funders | Dexia Crédit Local Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale | Funders |
Funders’ Insurance Consultants | Aon Limited | Aon |
Funders’ Solicitors | Tods Murray | TM |
Funders’ Technical Advisers | Appleyards | Appleyards |
Guarantor | Balfour Beatty plc | BBplc |
Hedging Counterparties | Dexia Nord LB | Hedging Counterparties, each a “Hedging Counterparty” |
Holding Company | Balfour Beatty Fire and Rescue NW Holdings Limited | HoldCo |
Independent Certifier | Gleeds Management Services Limited | Independent Certifier |
Intermediate Company | Balfour Beatty Fire and Rescue NW Intermediate Limited | InterCo |
Model Auditor | [TBC] | Model Auditor |
Parallel Loan Counterparty | Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Holdings Limited | BBIHL |
Project Co’s Solicitors | Ashfords LLP | Ashfords |
Project Company | Balfour Beatty Fire and Rescue NW Limited | ProjCo |
Project Co’s Insurance Advisers | Jardine Lloyd Thomson Limited | JLT |
Security Trustee | Dexia Management Services Limited | Security Trustee |
Shareholder/Stockholder | Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Investments Limited | BBIIL |
Sponsor | Balfour Beatty Capital Limited | BBCap |
Consultant | Ove Arup & Partners Limited | Arup |
Consultant | Blue Sky Design Services Limited | Blue Sky |
Consultant | Seymour Harris Limited | Seymour Harris |
So here’s the contract itself, I hope somebody out there appreciates it and finds this useful!
Section 1 Project Agreement and Schedules
1.1 Project Agreement (North West Fire and Rescue Services PFI Project) (205 pages)
1.2.1 Schedule 1 (Authorities Requirements) (1,655 pages)
1.2.2 Schedule 2 (Contractor’s Proposals) (106 pages)
1.2.3 Schedule 3 (Change in Law – Contractor’s Share) (3 pages)
1.2.4 Schedule 4 (Stations) (10 pages)
1.2.5 Schedule 5 (Completion Requirements) (6 pages)
1.2.6 Schedule 6 (Payment Mechanism) (96 pages)
1.2.7 Schedule 7 (Collateral Warranty) (37 pages)
1.2.8 Schedule 8 (Review Procedure) (24 pages)
1.2.9 Schedule 9 (Prohibited Materials) (3 pages)
1.2.10 Schedule 10 (Liaison Procedure) (5 pages)
1.2.11 Schedule 11 (Employee Information and Warranted Data) (61 pages)
1.2.12 Schedule 12 (Relevant Discharge Terms) (3 pages)
1.2.13 Schedule 13 (Title Deeds) (4 pages)
1.2.14 Schedule 14 (Insurances) (22 pages)
1.2.15 Schedule 15 (Authorities Policies) (6 pages)
1.2.16 Schedule 16 (Financing Agreements) (6 pages)
1.2.17 Schedule 17 (Project Documents and Ancillary Documents) (4 pages)
1.2.18 Schedule 18 (Code Dispute Resolution Procedure) (7 pages)
1.2.19 Schedule 19 (Anti Discrimination Requirements) (4 pages)
1.2.20 Schedule 20 (Confidential Information and Commercially Sensitive Information) (6 pages)
1.2.21 Schedule 21 (Bulk Transfer Terms) (6 pages)
1.2.22 Schedule 22 (Planning Conditions) (9 pages)
1.2.23 Schedule 23 (Change Protocol) (52 pages)
1.2.24 Schedule 24 (Surveys) (15 pages)
1.2.25 Schedule 25 (Decant Protocol) (12 pages)
1.2.26 Schedule 26 (Replies to Enquiries, Questionnaires and Clarifications) (856 pages)
1.2.27 Schedule 27 (Existing Building Plans) (22 pages)
1.2.28 Schedule 28 (Site Assumptions) (24 pages)
1.2.29 Schedule 29 (Site Plans) (36 pages)
1.2.30 Schedule 30 (Party Wall Awards) (4 pages)
1.3 Annex 1 (Base Case) (2 pages)
2. Construction Documents
2.1 Building Contract (461 pages)
2.2 Building Contract Guarantee (7 pages)
2.3 Building Contractor Collateral Warranty (10 pages)
2.4 Building Parallel Loan Agreement (8 pages)
2.5.1 Blue Sky Collateral Warranty to ProjCo (8 pages)
2.5.2 Blue Sky Collateral Warranty to ProjCo (8 pages)
2.5.3 Blue Sky Collateral Warranty to Authorities (9 pages)
2.5.4 Blue Sky Collateral Warranty to Authorities (7 pages)
2.5.5 Blue Sky Collateral Warranty to Mansell (7 pages)
2.5.6 Blue Sky Appointment (244 pages)
2.5.7 Blue Sky Appointment (157 pages)
2.6.1 Seymour Harris Collateral Warranty to ProjCo (8 pages)
2.6.2 Seymour Harris Warranty to Authorities (7 pages)
2.6.3 Seymour Harris Appointment (259 pages)
2.7.1 Arup Collateral Warranty to ProjCo (Mansell) (8 pages)
2.7.2 Arup Collateral Warranty to ProjCo (Border) (15 pages)
2.7.3 Arup Collateral Warranty to Authorities (Mansell) (18 pages)
2.7.4 Arup Collateral Warranty to Authorities (Border) (14 pages)
2.7.5 Arup Collateral Warranty to Mansell (14 pages)
2.7.6.1 Arup Appointment (Mansell) (269 pages)
2.7.6.2 Arup Appointment (Mansell)
2.7.7.1 Arup Appointment (Border) (164 pages)
2.7.7.2 Counterpart in respect of the Arup Appointment (Border) (164 pages)
2.8 Independent Certifiers’ Deed of Appointment (56 pages)
2.9.1 Independent Certifiers’ Warranty to Construction Contractor and Border (7 pages)
2.9.2 Independent Certifiers’ Warranty to Border (7 pages)
2.10 Building Sub-Contract (259 pages)
2.11 Collateral Warranty from Border to Authorities (9 pages)
2.12 Collateral Warranty from Border to ProjCo (9 pages)
3. Facilities Management
3.2 FM Agreement Guarantee (6 pages)
3.3 FM Contractor’s Collateral Warranty (9 pages)
3.4 Independent Certifiers’ Warranty to the FM Contractor (7 pages)
3.5 FM Contractor Parallel Loan Agreement (8 pages)
4.1 Loan Facilities Agreement (213 pages)
4.2 Funders PA Direct Agreement (30 pages)
4.3 Construction Direct Agreement (42 pages)
4.4 FM Direct Agreement (48 pages)
4.6 Accounts Mandate Agreement (32 pages)
4.7 Bank account mandates and specimen signatures (as referred to in Account Bank Agreement) (46 pages) (not included)
4.8 Security Trust and Intercreditor Deed (48 pages)
4.9 Noteholder Subscription Agreement (17 pages)
4.10 ProjCo Loan Note Instrument (23 pages)
4.11.1 Hedging Agreements (including ISDA schedules) (31 pages)
4.11.2 Hedging Agreements (including ISDA schedules) (33 pages)
4.12 Agency Fee Letter (2 pages)
4.13 Arrangement Fee Letter (2 pages)
4.14 Equity Guarantee (11 pages)
4.15 InterCo Loan Note Instrument (23 pages)
5. Security Documents
5.1 HC Debenture and Share Charge (24 pages)
5.2 Borrower Debenture (28 pages)
5.3.1.1 Notice of Charge and assignment to ACE European Group Limited (2 pages)
5.3.1.2 Notice of Charge and assignment to ACE European Group Limited (2 pages)
5.3.2.1 Notice of Charge and assignment to QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited (2 pages)
5.3.2.2 Acknowledgement of QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited (2 pages)
5.3.3 Notice of Charge and assignment to Arup Limited (1 page)
5.3.4 Notice of Charge and assignment to Blue Sky (1 page)
5.3.4.2 Acknowledgement of Blue Sky (1 page)
5.3.5 Notice of Charge and assignment to Lloyds Syndicate 3210 (2 pages)
5.3.6 Notice of Charge and assignment to Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Plc (2 pages)
5.3.7.1 Notice of Charge and assignment to Chartis Insurance (UK) Limited (2 pages)
5.3.7.2 Acknowledgement of Chartis Insurance (UK) Limited (2 pages)
5.3.8.1 Notice of Charge and assignment to Independent Certifier (1 page)
5.3.8.2 Acknowledgement of Independent Certifier (1 page)
5.3.9 Notice of Charge and assignment to Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe Limited (2 pages)
5.3.10 Notice of Charge and assignment to CNA Insurance Company Limited (2 pages)
5.3.11 Notice of Charge and Acknowledgement of Charge BBIIL (2 pages)
5.3.12 Notice of Charge and Acknowledgement of Charge – InterCo (2 pages)
5.3.13 Notice of Charge and Acknowledgement of Charge – BBplc (2 pages)
5.3.14 Notice to Counterparty & Acknowledgement of Counterparty – BB plc (2 pages)
5.3.15 Notice to Counterparty & Acknowledgement of Counterparty – ProjCo (2 pages)
5.3.16 Notice to Counterparty & Acknowledgement of Counterparty – HoldCo (2 pages)
5.3.16 Notice to Counterparty & Acknowledgement of Counterparty – InterCo (2 pages)
5.3.17 Notice to Counterparty & Acknowledgement of Counterparty – BBIIL (2 pages)
5.3.18 Notice to Counterparty & Acknowledgement of Counterparty – BBplc (2 pages)
5.3.19 Notice to Counterparty & Acknowledgement of Counterparty – ProjCo (2 pages)
5.3.20 Notice to Counterparty & Acknowledgement of Counterparty – BBIIL (2 pages)
5.3.21 Notice of Charge & Acknowledgement of Charge – HoldCo (2 pages)
5.3.22 Notice of Charge & Acknowledgement of Charge – Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale (2 pages)
5.3.23 Notice of Charge & Acknowledgement of Charge – Mansell (4 pages)
5.3.24 Notice of Charge & Acknowledgement of Charge – Dexia Credit Local (2 pages)
5.3.25 Notice of Charge & Acknowledgement of Charge – Border (2 pages)
5.6.1 Share Certificate of ProjCo (2 pages)
5.6.2 Share Certificate of InterCo (2 pages)
5.7 Intermediate Debenture (24 pages)
6. Corporate Documents
6.1 Shareholders Agreement (47 pages)
6.10 Board minutes for Border (3 pages)
6.11 Certified copy Power of Attorney for ProjCo (4 pages)
6.12 Certified copy Power of Attorney for HoldCo (2 pages)
6.13 Certified copy Power of Attorney for InterCo (3 pages)
6.14 Certified copy Power of Attorney for BBIIL (5 pages)
6.15 Certified copy Power of Attorney for BBIHL (5 pages)
6.16 Certified copy Power of Attorney for BBplc (5 pages)
6.17 Certified copy Power of Attorney for Mansell (2 pages)
6.18 Certified copy Power of Attorney for BBW (3 pages)
7. Authorities Documents
8. Land Documents
8.12.1 Certificate in respect of the Site at Bootle & Netherton (54 pages)
8.1.1 Certificate in respect of the Site at Carlisle East (49 pages)
8.1.2 Questionnaire in respect of the Site at Carlisle East (20 pages)
8.2.1 Certificate in respect of the Site at Carlisle West (61 pages)
8.2.2 Questionnaire in respect of the Site at Carlisle West (35 pages)
8.3.1 Certificate in respect of the Site at Patterdale (61 pages)
8.3.2 Questionnaire in respect of the Site at Patterdale (15 pages)
8.4.1 Certificate in respect of the Site at Penrith (83 pages)
8.4.2 Questionnaire in respect of the Site at Penrith (59 pages)
8.5.1 Certificate in respect of the Site at Workington (50 pages)
8.5.2 Questionnaire in respect of the Site at Workington (15 pages)
8.6.1 Certificate in respect of the Site at Blackburn (73 pages)
8.6.2 Questionnaire in respect of the Site at Blackburn (17 pages)
8.7.1 Certificate in respect of the Site at Burnley (48 pages)
8.7.2 Questionnaire in respect of the Site at Burnley (14 pages)
8.8.1 Certificate in respect of the Site at Chorley (54 pages)
8.8.2 Questionnaire in respect of the Site at Chorley (14 pages)
8.9.1 Certificate in respect of the Site at Fleetwood (56 pages)
8.9.2 Questionnaire in respect of the Site at Fleetwood (15 pages)
8.10.1 Certificate in respect of the Site at Belle Vale (50 pages)
8.10.2 Questionnaire in respect of the Site at Belle Vale (14 pages)
8.11.1 Certificate in respect of the Site at Birkenhead (83 pages)
8.11.2 Questionnaire in respect of the Site at Birkenhead (17 pages)
8.12.1 Certificate in respect of the Site at Bootle & Netherton (54 pages)
8.12.2 Questionnaire in respect of the Site at Bootle & Netherton (15 pages)
8.13.1 Certificate in respect of the Site at Formby (47 pages)
8.13.2 Questionnaire in respect of the Site at Formby (12 pages)
8.14.1 Certificate in respect of the Site at Kirkdale (52 pages)
8.14.2 Questionnaire in respect of the Site at Kirkdale (14 pages)
8.15.1 Certificate in respect of the Site at Kirkdale (Temporary Site) (51 pages)
8.15.2 Questionnaire in respect of the Site at Kirkdale (Temporary Site) (13 pages)
8.16.1 Certificate in respect of the Site at Newton-le-Willows (63 pages)
8.16.2 Questionnaire in respect of the Site at Newton-le-Willows (15 pages)
8.17.1 Certificate in respect of the Site at Southport (56 pages)
8.17.2 Questionnaire in respect of the Site at Southport (15 pages)
8.18.1 Certificate in respect of the Site at Southport (Temporary Site) (63 pages)
8.18.2 Questionnaire in respect of the Site at Southport (Temporary Site) (16 pages)
9. Insurance Documents
9.1 Broker’s letter of undertaking to Authorities (116 pages)
9.2 Broker’s letter of undertaking to Funders (113 pages)
9.3 Funders’ Insurance Consultant’s Report (46 pages)
9.4 Funders’ Insurance Consultant’s Engagement letter (13 pages)
10. Legal Opinions and Miscellaneous Documents
10.3 Legal opinion of each of:
- BBIIL;
- BB;
- Mansell;
- BBW; and
- BBIHL
in-house counsel on capacity of BBIIL, BB, Mansell, BBW and BBIHL to enter into the Transaction Documents to which each is respectively a party, the due execution of those Transaction Documents and on the enforceability of the Transaction Documents. (9 pages)
10.4 Model Auditor’s Report (9 pages)
10.5 Engagement letter of Model Auditor (14 pages)
10.6 Technical Advisor’s Report (296 pages)
10.7 Engagement letter of Funders’ Technical Advisor (27 pages)
10.8 Financial Model (xls format)
10.9 Financial Model (xlsm format)
10.10 Confirmation that Lenders’ CPs have been met or waived (4 pages)
CP3 Consent of Officer of ProjCo (3 pages)
CP4a Evidence of BBIIL taking share subscriptions in HoldCo (4 pages)
CP4b Evidence of HoldCo taking share subscriptions in InterCo and ProjCo (6 pages)
Written evidence of the accounts opened with the Accounts Bank (1 page)
CP17.1.1a The audited financial statements of Balfour Beatty plc (158 pages)
CP21 VAT registration certificate (3 pages)
11. Conformed Copies of Project Agreement and Schedules
11.1 Project Agreement (main body) (213 pages)
11.2.3 Schedule 3 (Change in Law – Contractor’s Share) (2 pages)
11.2.4 Schedule 4 (Stations) (9 pages)
11.2.5 Schedule 5 (Completion Requirements) (5 pages)
11.2.6 Schedule 6 (Payment Mechanism) (98 pages)
11.2.7 Schedule 7 (Collateral Warranty) (36 pages)
11.2.8 Schedule 8 (Review Procedure) (23 pages)
11.2.9 Schedule 9 (Prohibited Materials) (2 pages)
11.2.10 Schedule 10 (Liaison Procedure) (4 pages)
11.2.12 Schedule 12 (Relevant Discharge Terms) (2 pages)
11.2.13 Schedule 13 (Title Deeds) (3 pages)
11.2.14 Schedule 14 (Insurances) (21 pages)
11.2.15 Schedule 15 (Authorities Policies) (5 pages)
11.2.16 Schedule 16 (Financing Agreements) (5 pages)
11.2.17 Schedule 17 (Project Documents and Ancillary Documents) (3 pages)
11.2.18 Schedule 18 (Code Dispute Resolution Procedure) (6 pages)
11.2.19 Schedule 19 (Anti Discrimination Requirements) (3 pages)
11.2.20 Schedule 20 (Confidential Information and Commercially Sensitive Information) (5 pages)
11.2.21 Schedule 21 (Bulk Transfer Terms) (5 pages)
11.2.22 Schedule 22 (Planning Conditions) (8 pages)
11.2.23 Schedule 23 (Change Protocol) (51 pages)
11.2.24 Schedule 24 (Surveys) (14 pages)
11.2.25 Schedule 25 (Decant Protocol) (11 pages)
11.2.28 Schedule 28 (Site Assumptions) (23 pages)
11.2.30 Schedule 30 (Party Wall Awards) (3 pages)
12. Conformed Copies of Building Contracts and Schedules
12.1 Building Contract (main body) (458 pages)
13. Confirmed Copies of FM Agreement and Schedules
13.1 FM Agreement (main body and Schedules 1 – 5 and 7 – 29) (391 pages)
13.2 FM Agreement Schedule 6 (FM Payment Mechanism) (53 pages)
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