Issue - meetings

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]

The report was introduced by the Cabinet Member for Highways who explained that this report was for the procurement of the highways contract to start in 2021. Surrey has over 3000 miles of road and pavement and delivers a number of statutory functions contributing to the strategic ambitions of the council for economic development. The council recognises the changing needs of the users and are looking to improve cycling and walking and hence the importance of having a forward thinking contractor to help deliver highways services for the future. It was explained that the scale and scope of the services would take a 6 month mobilisation and officers had undertaken extensive research. There was great interest from the industry and a set of clear objectives had been developed. The contract would be a collaboration and partnership with support from Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport and Cranfield University to analyse all the different contract models available to the council.

The Cabinet were informed that the Select Committee Members Reference Group had been updated on the development of the contract and would be provided with regular updates regarding the contract.

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]