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Declarations of interest made for this item:

 
None

 

RESOLVED:
 
That the Cabinet
Member Resident Services and Tackling Inequality
 

Approved the
extension of the existing Nuisance Vehicle Removal Contract with
Marston (Holdings) Limited, in accordance with the Council's
Contract Standing Orders 18.02.2 (which allowed for an extension of
a contract term) and 2.01(d) as the value of the contract was
£500,000 and above, for a period of one year from 1 December
2025 to 30 November 2026.

Approved a variation
of the new annual contract value from £1,132,199 to an annual
extension value of £1,117,720, providing a net saving of
£14,479 as permitted under CSOs 18.03.3 and
2.01(d).

Approved the
development of an in-house feasibility assessment during the
extension period, including site identification, capital investment
options, and service design requirements to inform the
Council’s long-term procurement or delivery strategy beyond
2026.

 

Reasons for decision
 
The extension of the
Nuisance Vehicle Removal Contract was required to ensure continuity
of a critical service that supported parking compliance and the
Council’s wider transport objectives. The removal of
nuisance, abandoned, and obstructive vehicles was an essential
function to maintain public safety, protect emergency access
routes, and preserve the quality of life for residents.
 
The Nuisance Vehicle
Removal Contract played a crucial role in supporting major events
at the Tottenham Stadium, where the Council had a statutory duty to
maintain clear evacuation routes and emergency access corridors.
Tottenham event days regularly generated significant traffic and
parking pressure, and without a reliable removal service the
Council would have been unable to manage obstructive vehicles that
compromised safety. The extension of the contract therefore
safeguarded the Council’s ability to meet its obligations on
public safety, event management, and local transport
resilience.
 
Additionally,
extending the contract allowed the Council to maintain effective
parking enforcement operations, safeguard compliance with transport
policies, and continue supporting local priorities such as tackling
environmental crime and ensuring safer, more accessible streets.
The extension also provided stability while the Council considered
longer-term service delivery options.
 
By extending the
existing arrangement, the Council avoided the risks associated with
a service gap, including unmanaged abandoned vehicles, ineffective
enforcement against persistent evaders, and reputational damage
from not meeting statutory duties. It also ensured that the service
remained aligned with both the Council’s Corporate Delivery
Plan and Haringey’s Transport Strategy, supporting the
strategic goals of safety, sustainability, and resident
satisfaction.
 

Alternative options considered

 
This work informed
future decision-making on whether full procurement or internal
delivery provided the best value and resilience for the
borough.
 
Do nothing – Not
viable. Leaving the contract to lapse would have exposed residents
and service users to safety risks and undermined compliance.
Continuing the Nuisance Vehicle Removal Service was essential and
the Council avoided several significant drawbacks upon the current
contract's expiration. These included:
a) Inability to
promptly remove abandoned vehicles: Without a contract in place,
the Council would have struggled to address the issue of abandoned
vehicles, which could cause public nuisance, obstruct traffic flow,
and pose safety hazards.
b) Difficulty in
dealing with unregistered vehicles: A lack of a removal contract
could have made it challenging for the Council to handle the large
number of unregistered vehicles identified during parking
enforcement operations. These vehicles might have accumulated
outstanding penalties and contributed to ongoing traffic
violations.
c) Ineffective
enforcement against persistent evaders: Without a removal contract,
the Council might have been unable to deal with persistent evader
vehicles effectively. This could have resulted in losing
opportunities to recover outstanding debts associated with these
vehicles.
d) Inability to meet
commitments and obligations: If the Council had specific
commitments or obligations outlined in local management plans, such
as providing removal services during special events or designated
areas, not having a vehicle removal contract could have prevented
the Council from fulfilling these responsibilities.
 
In-House Solution
This service involved
multiple functions, including the removal of abandoned and nuisance
vehicles, those illegally parked, safe storage, controlled vehicle
release, and compliant disposal processes, all of which required
secure and well-managed pound facilities. Establishing such a
facility within or near the borough had proven challenging.
Delivery of an
in-house nuisance vehicle removal service therefore presented
significant operational and logistical complexities. The Council
considered all relevant factors in developing a comprehensive
assessment of requirements for the future delivery of this service,
whether some or all component parts could be delivered in-house.
Until this assessment was complete, it was not feasible to
transition the service in-house without risking significant
disruption to operations.