Purpose

Request to approve the contract extension for the Courier Service for Lancashire School Libraries.

A courier service has been contracted by the Lancashire School Library Service (SLS) to facilitate the collection and distribution of books, learning resources and other materials between the service depot and subscribing schools across Lancashire. SLS operates as a traded service within Lancashire County Council's Cultural Services and relies on an efficient and reliable courier network to support the delivery of its services to schools.

The volume of deliveries varies throughout the academic year depending on school activity and subscription levels. On average, more than 3,000 items are delivered annually to over 250 school locations across the county. The courier service plays a critical role in ensuring that educational resources are delivered and returned within agreed timescales, enabling schools to access materials when required and supporting continuity of service for educational establishments.

The current agreement was procured through an open tender process and commenced on 1 December 2023. The contract was awarded for an initial term of three years, with the option to extend for up to a further 24 months.

Decision

Georgina Roby, Head of Cultural Services has taken a decision to approve the extension of Courier Service for Lancashire School Libraries.