Purpose

In November 2022, Southend on Sea City Council (SCC) allocated up to £1 million of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Main Fund to enhancing the children’s play provision in public parks within the City. Two contracts have been procured to deliver these improvements:

                                  i.         Landscape architect consultancy to design, procure and oversee the delivery of these works – the procurement for this contract commenced in February 2023 and was awarded in August 2023

                                ii.         Landscape contractor to deliver the onsite works to full practical completion – the purpose of this report

A competitive open tender was undertaken via the Find a Tender Service (FTS) Open Procedure route in accordance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 for the Refurbishments to Play Areas in Multiple Parks within the City of Southend on Sea.

Decision

That the Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Waste:

1)    Approves the award of contract for the Parks Improvement Programme to the preferred supplier in accordance with the outcome of the tender evaluation following the Open Procedure procurement route.

2)    Delegates authority to the Director of Infrastructure and Environment, in consultation with the Head of Legal Services to finalise the terms and conditions of and enter into the contract and all associated documentation to facilitate the award and implementation of the contract.

Reasons for the decision

A robust and compliant FTS procurement process was undertaken to identify the preferred bidder.

There is a need to have approved arrangements in place which is also compliant with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules and the Public Contract Regulations.

The key reason for this decision is to enable Southend City Council to deliver on its commitment to its Parks Improvement Programme.