Content

To approve the procurement of eight small
electric vans (Ford Couriers) from Looks Motor Group PLC

Reasons for the decision

The Fleet Replacement Programme has been
awarded £6.4m of capital funding to procure vehicles in
financial years 2023-24 - 2025-26. Cabinet awarded the budget in
February 2023, and a further paper detailing the route to market
was approved by Cabinet in September 2023. This paper also
delegated the authority for award of contract to the Director of
Highways and Transport.

Phased procurements are being undertaken to source the vehicles,
with the latest procurement being for 8 small electric vans.

The vehicles will be used in a variety of services across the Fleet
and the charging infrastructure is already in place for these
vehicles.

The vans are being purchases from stock to ensure their swift
arrival, hence there are 2 slightly different specifications and
prices.

The pricing for the vehicles is as set out in the attached record
of officer decision, and falls within the allocated budgets.

For the avoidance of doubt, the procurement route recommended and
endorsed in the sourcing plan (approved May 2023) and recommended
in the September Cabinet paper is the use of a direct award under
the procurement partnership limited (TPPL)'s appropriate frameworks
for the full range of required vehicles. Direct award is a
compliant route to market with these frameworks. The framework
being used here is TPPL's vehicle purchase framework for cars and
light & medium commercial vehicles, reference
TPPLHCCOP03.

This tranche of vehicles represents part of the approved vehicle
replacement plan for 2024/2025. The remainder of this phase has
been on hold subject to a due diligence review of the short term
depot improvements project, and the procurement of additional
electric vehicle charging infrastructure, but will be recommencing
later this year.

The vehicles meet the required specifications and aspirations of
the emerging Fleet Strategy 2023-2030. The electric vehicles will
help the council met its pledge to be carbon neutral by 2030.

The vehicles have been sourced via a compliant route to market. The
vehicles are
within overall allocated budgets and have been trialled by relevant
services.

I confirm that in making this decision I have considered the
following in line with Wiltshire Council’s Constitution

Key decision requirements: Not applicable

Views of relevant cabinet member(s), committee chairman, area
board(s): Yes, Cabinet approved the purchases on 13 September
2023

Consultation with cabinet member(s), the Leader and Scrutiny (for
Executive decisions taken under Emergency Powers): Yes, Cabinet
approved the purchases on 13th September 2023

Consultation in accordance with the council’s consultation
guidance and the views emanating from that process: Not
applicable

Implication of any council policy, initiative, strategy or
procedure: Fleet Strategy 2023-2030

Staffing, financial and legal implications: Yes

The assessment of any associated risks in accordance with the
Council’s risk management strategy: Not applicable

Involvement of appropriate statutory officers and/or corporate
directors and directors: Not applicable

Regional or national guidance from other bodies where relevant: Not
applicable

The council’s constitution, including the Procurement and
Contract Rules (Part 10) and the Financial Regulations and
Procedure Rules (Part 9), all relevant guidance, legislation, codes
of practice, and protocols: part 10

Alternative options considered

Run a mini competition via a framework or go
out to tender - reason for rejection: Any further delays in the
procurement process would lead to delays in vehicles being
delivered, leading to increased vehicle downtime and impact on
services