Purpose

The purpose of this report is to seek approval via delegated decision to award the contract for Beavertail replacement program for the Grounds Maintenance Service.

On 28th November 2022, Strategic Contracts Board agreed to the procurement strategy for procuring these vehicles through the Framework provider - The Procurement Partnership Ltd – TPPL). (ref: PB-2223-000003-S). Initially all grounds maintenance vehicles were awarded other than the Beavertails (ref: PB-2223-000003-S-A)

A further competition was carried out via TPPL in accordance with procurement regulations and evaluated and moderated. This report is recommending the appointment of a supplier (value and supplier name set out in the Part B Report).

Decision

For the reasons set out in the report and its appendices, the Corporate Director of Sustainable Communities, Regeneration & Economic Recovery RESOLVED:

·       To agree the award of contracts for nine grounds maintenance Beavertails as detailed in the report to the provider and for the values detailed in the Part B report

·       To note that the name of the provider and contract value will be published following the award.

·       To note that this report covers the procurement for Beavertail vehicles only

Reasons for the decision

The Council has carried out a further competition via TPPL to ensure that the preferred bid offers value for money for the Council and complies the relevant procurement rules. The contract will support the following Council corporate priorities for our borough:

Key Policy Objectives

The management of the borough’s woodlands, parks, communal grounds, and green spaces is a legal Health and Safety requirement and a Statutory Duty of Care of the Authority and enshrined in Law as follows:

·                 The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

·                 The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

·                 The Highways Act 1980

·                 The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015

The Grounds Maintenance Service is also a key priority for the Administration, as set out in the Mayor’s business plan: The Council balances its books, listens to residents, and delivers good sustainable services The key objectives set out in the business plan and best industry practice and Duty of Care are: Working with local communities to enable them to take the decisions that affect their parks.

·                 Ensuring Croydon is a place that values the arts and culture, where sport is accessible and encouraged.

·                 Working to make our parks, open spaces, communal grounds, and the public highway safe for all.

·                 To improve the important habitats and to protect and improve biodiversity.

The investment into the service to maintain the Council’s green spaces also meets its Parks and Green Spaces Renewal Strategy 2022-2025 (here) which sets out that, “During the next three years the new parks and green spaces team will adapt to deliver and enable a core service that ensures Croydon’s green and blue spaces are clean, safe and biodiverse places for all residents to benefit from and enjoy.”

Alternative options considered

Not awarding, however this would leave the Council liable for the ULEZ charge (daily), increasing the costs the Council would face.

Use of trailers and 4x4 vehicles, however due to the parking restrictions in the borough this would not be a viable option