Issue - meetings

Minute 451 refers

The Executive Member for Community Safety and Environment referred to the original report considered by Environment Scrutiny Committee and the Executive and advised of some errors relating to the contract period dates.  He advised that contrary to the report, the current contract period was January 2008 – December 2014 and not January 2007 – December 2013.  Therefore, the proposed extension period would commence in January 2015.  He corrected all of the erroneous dates in the report.

RESOLVED – that (A) the comments of the Environment Scrutiny Committee as detailed in the report submitted, be received; and

(B)      taking into account the risks of a longer period against the greater financial benefits, and in the context of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan objectives, the current grounds maintenance contract be extended for a period of 5 years.

The Chairman of Environment Scrutiny Committee submitted a report detailing the results of the review of the Grounds Maintenance contract by a task and finish group.  He referred to the review process, aims and objectives and the findings that the existing contract represented good value for money.  The Environment Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting held on 13 November 2012, had endorsed the findings of the task and finish group and had recommended a five year extension of the current contract.  Finally, the Chairman thanked Officers for their hard work in supporting the task and finish group’s work.

The Executive Member for Community Safety and Environment thanked the Environment Scrutiny Committee and the task and finish group.  He accepted their findings and proposed a five year extension to the existing contract.

The Executive considered the review findings and the conclusion that extending the existing contract with the enhancements detailed in the report submitted would be a more favourable option than retendering the contract.

The Executive supported the recommendations as now detailed.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) the comments of the Environment Scrutiny Committee as detailed in the report submitted, be received; and

(B)    taking into account the risks of a longer period against the greater financial benefits, and in the context of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan objectives, the current grounds maintenance contract be extended for a period of 5 years.

The Chairman of the Grounds Maintenance Contract Review Task and Finish Group submitted a report advising the Environment Scrutiny Committee of the results of the review of the contract by the Task and Finish Group.  The Committee Chairman thanked Officers for their support of the work of the Task and Finish Group.

Members were advised that the Task and Finish Group had assessed whether the existing contract represented good value for money.  Members were referred to paragraph 2.11 of the report now submitted for the contractor’s final offer in the event of an extension.  Councillor G McAndrew referred to the positive comments that had been received from Riversmead and South Anglia Housing Associations.

Members were referred to paragraph 2.17 for the improvements brought about by the contractor as part of the effective working relationship with East Herts Council.  The Committee Chairman also referred Members to page 50 of the report now submitted for the options open to the Committee when making recommendations to the Executive.

In response to a comment from Councillor E Buckmaster regarding the savings from any extension to the contract, the Head of Environmental Services confirmed that there would be a reduction in the annual contract charge.

Councillor R Beeching proposed and Councillor B Wrangles seconded, a motion that the Executive be advised that the preference of the Environment Scrutiny Committee would be for a 5 year extension to the Grounds Maintenance Contract.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.  The Committee received the report.

RESOLVED – that (A) the report be received;

(B)   the approach and findings of the Grounds Maintenance Contract Task and Finish Group be endorsed;

(C)   the Executive be advised that the current Grounds Maintenance Contract represented good value for money and an extension to this contact was the option most likely to deliver best value to the Council; and

(D)   the Executive be advised that the preference of the Environment Scrutiny Committee would be for a 5 year extension to the Grounds Maintenance Contract.