Decision details

RESOLVED:

1. That the highways service’s market research conducted to inform the procurement strategy be noted and the procurement strategy for highway services contracts be approved.

Reason for Decision:

The Highways Service has successfully engaged contractors to deliver elements of its services on its behalf for many years, bringing together the strengths of both the public and private sector. The exact scope of services needs to be balanced against the cost of delivering these services, the management of a wide variety of associated risks and the need to employ the required skills when needed.

Officers have undertaken extensive research into what other authorities are doing in this area, the market’s capabilities to deliver the required services and the industry’s desire to enter into such contracts.  This research has been overlaid with the Council’s objectives to not only continue to deliver highway maintenance activities, but also to transform delivery of highway and transport activities over the next 10 to 20 years.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee]