The Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report setting out the procurement process for the Winter Maintenance Term Contract 2022-2025 with a possible 3-year extension based on performance and seeking authority to enter into a contract with the successful tenderer after the tendering process in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.  The Winter Service Plan was attached at Appendix 1 to the report at Appendix 1: Winter Service Plan and the Financial Implications Report at Appendix 2.

The report explained that the aim of the Winter Service was to provide a service to reduce, as far as possible, the effects of adverse weather on the public highway during the winter period and provide travelling conditions that were as safe as reasonably practicable having regard to the road hierarchy.  The winter maintenance service was provided by the Council for 26 weeks of the year, starting on 1 October each year and ending on 31 March.

The current term Winter Maintenance had come to the end of its term and the Council now needed to re-tender the contract in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.  The total estimated value of the contract was approximately £750k over the first three years (36 months), at the rate of approximately £250k per year and potentially up to an additional £750k should the contract be extended for the subsequent three-year duration.  The report further explained the steps that the Council would take to ensure that the contract would be tendered and awarded in accordance with the Public Procurement Rules and the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules in advance of the winter season.

Resolved:

(1)      That the Winter Maintenance Term Contract 2022-2025 with a possible 3-year extension, be tendered subject to performance, in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015;

(2)      That the Executive Director for Economic Growth & Neighbourhood Services in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Environmental Services & Community Safety, the Assistant Director of Legal & Democratic Services and the Director of Finance be authorised to enter into relevant contracts required to undertake the Winter Maintenance Service Programme, as set out in the report.