The Portfolio Holder Decisions/Leader Decisions meeting on Friday 21 June 2024 focused on the approval to proceed with the procurement of winter salt. The decision was made to use the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO) Framework Contract for this purpose.

Approval to Proceed with Procurement - Winter Salt

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property, Councillor Peter Butlin, approved the use of the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO) Framework Contract for the provision of winter salt. This decision authorises the Executive Director for Resources, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Transport Planning, to enter into all necessary agreements under the ESPO Framework Contract.

Reasons for the Decision

The decision was driven by the statutory obligations under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, which imposes a duty on highway authorities to maintain highways and ensure safe passage during winter conditions. Following the severe winter of 2009/10, guidance was produced on minimum stock levels, requiring Warwickshire County Council to hold a minimum stock of over 12,000 tonnes of salt across its depots.

Supplier and Contract Details

The Council identified Compass Minerals in Cheshire as the nearest suitable supplier. The ESPO Framework 220_24, recently re-tendered for a four-year period, was chosen as it matches the Council's requirements and avoids the costly and time-consuming process of going to market independently. The estimated cost for the winter season 2024/25 is £700,000, with a total contract value of approximately £2,800,000 over its duration.

Financial Implications

The financial implications of this decision are detailed in Appendix 1 for Approval to Proceed with Procurement - Winter Salt, which outlines the price schedule and estimated costs.

Environmental Implications

The meeting concluded that there are no significant environmental implications associated with this procurement decision.

For further details, the full minutes of the meeting can be accessed here.