Agenda item

For Members to understand the current position on the contract re-procurement.

Contributors:

Cllr Steve Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport

Richard Barker, Corporate Director Communities

Rob Smith, Service Director Highways & Technical Services

The Chairman invited Councillor Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport, to introduce his report and presentation to the Committee. The Cabinet Member highlighted a number of points:-

·         This procurement exercise was one of the largest Buckinghamshire Council would carry out and the service was of significant importance to residents.

·         Market engagement had already taken place to set out the overall requirements of the service, one of which was bringing multiple functions back to the Council.

·         Responses to the Initial Selection Questionnaire for the Term Maintenance Contract were now being assessed.

·         The current model was not appropriate to achieve the outcomes or key strategic objectives of the Council. The Cabinet Member outlined a number of the model’s limitations one of which was the small ‘in house’ client team.

·         The preferred new model had been developed following discussions between a panel of Members, officers and industry experts. This model had been approved by Cabinet in March 2021.

·         All parties involved in the new model would sign up to be part of an alliance whereby all parties would agree to share information and best practice.

·         The in-house team would set policy, strategy and communication in line with the council’s requirements. This team would manage the asset and network as well as manage the contracts. Moreover, this team would facilitate improved and closer working relationship with Members, Parishes and local communities.

·         Performance indicators would be in place and the council would maintain the right not to extend any contract should it see fit.

·         Member input would continue in future and the Select Committee would be updated as the procurement process develops.

In response to questions, the following points were noted:-

·         The model would allow for a stronger Member and local voice however issues on the Highways did need to be categorized to maintain the asset. The detail of this would be developed later in the procurement process.

·         The procurement at this stage did not extend to the role of Town and Parish Councils in the Highways service. Possibilities to devolve would be considered as appropriate based on the new structure’s flexibility and the capacity of Parish and Town Councils.

·         The market engagement exercise had a scoring method based on a range of subjects including the council’s climate change ambitions. An example of this would be better use of materials to reduce the network’s carbon impact. In addition, the service wanted newer, more efficient machinery being used on the network.

·         The council’s legal team had been involved in the procurement process.

·         In response to a Member question on the impact of potholes on cyclists, it was noted that Buckinghamshire Council was able to set its own pothole specification threshold as appropriate. The current guidance was in keeping with most local authorities.

·         There would be an opportunity for input from residents and road users once the delivery of the new contract had commenced.

The Chairman thanked the Cabinet Member for outlining the current position on the procurement of the Highways contract and welcomed this returning to the Select Committee later in the procurement process.