Issue - meetings

The procurement project team, with support from other disciplines from across the Council and externally, had made positive progress with the delivery of the new Highways operating model and the associated procurement activity and were on programme to deliver these key contracts for the Council.

One of these contracts was the appointment of a new Term Maintenance Contractor.  The Cabinet report paper, and the confidential Appendix 1, reported on the outcome of the procurement exercise and recommended the award of contract to the preferred bidder with the most economically advantageous tender in accordance with the agreed assessment model for quality and price.

The Term Maintenance Contract was a key component of the new Highway service contracts and awarding it would enable the smooth transfer to the new operating model for the Highways Service and ensure business continuity.  It would reflect value for money and was lower than current costs on a like for like basis.

RESOLVED –

(1)               That progress made to date on the procurement of the new Highways Services Contracts be NOTED.

(2)               That the award of the Highways Term Maintenance contract to the preferred bidder be AGREED, as detailed within confidential Appendix 1.

The procurement project team, with support from other disciplines from across the Council and externally, had made positive progress with the delivery of the new Highways operating model and the associated procurement activity and were on programme to deliver these key contracts for the Council.

One of these contracts was the appointment of a new Term Maintenance Contractor.  The Cabinet report paper, and the confidential Appendix 1, reported on the outcome of the procurement exercise and recommended the award of contract to the preferred bidder with the most economically advantageous tender in accordance with the agreed assessment model for quality and price.

The Term Maintenance Contract was a key component of the new Highway service contracts and awarding it would enable the smooth transfer to the new operating model for the Highways Service and ensure business continuity.  It would reflect value for money and was lower than current costs on a like for like basis.

In the discussion which followed, the Cabinet Member stressed the robustness of the procurement process.  It was noted that the Council had used an external independent multidisciplinary team of specialists to support the Council’s procurement project team to ensure that outcomes were being met.  

In response to a question regarding competition, the Cabinet Member referred to section 2.2 of the report and stated that the competitive nature of the process has helped to secure value for money and innovation.  Following the Market Engagement Day, in which 57 organisations attended, 7 initial returns were received. This, the Cabinet Member explained, was a large amount for the industry.

The Cabinet Member stated that a key focus going into the procurement exercise was to improve the service and that this would include communication with all stakeholders, including residents, members and town and parish councils.

In response to a question about the current contract and programme of works, the Cabinet Member explained that the Council was working actively to ensure that standards remained at the same level and that the work programme for the year would be delivered. The Cabinet Member assured Cabinet that there would be effective monitoring of the new service.

Members discussed the confidential appendix in private and asked a variety of questions around the tender evaluation including links around local employment and upon returning to public session it was –

RESOLVED –

(1)               That progress made to date on the procurement of the new Highways Services Contracts be NOTED.

(2)               That the award of the Highways Term Maintenance contract to the preferred bidder be AGREED, as detailed within confidential Appendix 1.