Decision

Decision
 
For the reasons set
out in the report Cabinet RESOLVED to Agree:
 
i) 
To commence a procurement process for corporate security services
via an open tender exercise, for a period of 3 years with the
option to extend for another 24 months, at 12-month intervals.
ii) 
To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Resources, in
consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Finance and Resources
to award the contract following the procurement exercise and for
any subsequent extensions beyond the initial three-year term.
 

Alternatives Considered

 
a) 
Do Nothing – The council currently has
a number of contracts that have been let in silo and others that
are due to expire. Due to the overarching value of security
requirements, across the council, there is a need to tender these
services in order to maintain compliance against the councils own
CSO’s and that of the PCR2015. The continuance of using
multiple contractors is likely to deliver uncompetitive rates and
increase contract administration, this could lead to non-compliance
against regulation and is not recommended.
b) 
Deliver in-house - this option has been
considered and will be tested throughout the contract term. To date
this option has not been progressed further due to a lack of
capacity to undertake mass recruitment, management of security
staff, inconsistencies in quality, up to date training and SIA and
CCTV licences and site-specific needs. We have a minimum guarantee
which could potentially be directly employed, however, we would
need to have a massive pool of sessional security to meet ad-hoc
requirements and the needs of sites on both short and longer term
assignments as we have a flexible portfolio. The CCTV control
centre also requires vehicles to be provided and Debden House has
seasonal requirements with dog handlers. We would not be able to
meet the range of security types in-house. This is not our core
business and it would be less complex to award it o contractor/s to
manage and deliver to our needs.
c) 
Open market tender – Tendering the
contract outside of an existing framework would enable access to a
wider pool of providers and encourage SMEs where possible, which is
recommended.