Issue - meetings

[Report of the Director for Environment and Neighbourhoods. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods.]

Award of Highway and Street Lighting Term Contracts.

The Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods introduced this report which sought the approval to award a Street Lighting Term Contract, in accordance with CSO 9.07.01(d) for an initial term of four years, with an option for two further two year extension periods; thereby the maximum term of the contract being eight years.

The Cabinet Member noted street lighting made communities safer, reduced risk of crime and ensured that the Council was energy efficient. Further, it was the Council’s responsibility to provide high quality maintenance for highway and street lighting across the borough. Officers had undertaken a competitive tendering exercise in relation to a Highways and Street Lighting term contract.

In response to questions from Councillors Barnes and Tucker, the following information was noted:

• Regarding the contract and the clauses within, the Head of Procurement advised that there are significant differences between the clauses in the existing contract and the one under consideration. There was an escalation process within the contract under consideration which meant it could be terminated if the contractor failed to perform its duties as set out in the contract.
• With regards to the roll out of LED lighting, the Director for Environment and Neighbourhoods confirmed a business case was being created to look at rolling out LED lighting across the borough. Such a proposal would enable energy saving and maintenance cost savings. Once proposals had been formulated within the next 4 months, they would be consulted on with the relevant Cabinet Member before being brought to Cabinet.
• Responding to the issue of not delivering the Highway and Street Lighting in-house, the Leader emphasised that the first preference within  the Labour Administration’s manifesto was a commitment to deliver services in-house  where it was prudent to do so, where it did not impact on service quality and where the Council had the capacity to deliver.
• Regarding the length of time it would take to develop this service in-house, the Cabinet Member noted this would take between two and three years. The contract would enable the Council to address the logistical matters such as the equipment it would need, the number of staff it would require and what training would be required, before it considered bringing this service in-house.
• The four year term of the contract under discussion was a reasonable amount of time for the Council to explore the possibility of bringing this service in-house at a later date. Islington Council’s Highways contract was compared to for context which had a lock in clause for 25 years.
• The Cabinet Member stated the current contract had issues surrounding performance management.
• The Cabinet Member responded that the APSE report was a draft report and not complete so it should be considered in that context and not associated with the resolutions at hand.

Further to considering exempt information at item 33,

RESOLVED

ThatCabinet approves:

1. Pursuant to CSO 9.07.01(d) the award of a contract for Street Lighting Term Contract to Bidder SL 1 (identified in the exempt part of the report), for an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 194