An Officer Non-Key Decision meeting was scheduled to take place on Friday 30 October 2026. The primary item on the agenda was the consideration of a vehicle removal contract.

Vehicle Removal Contract

The meeting was scheduled to consider a report recommending the award of a vehicle removal services contract to Marston Group Ltd. This contract was proposed to be for a period of up to 11 months, from 1 November 2026 to 30 September 2027, with an estimated cost of £472,574.79. The report indicated that this award was intended to ensure the continuity of essential services while the council undertook an options appraisal for future vehicle removal arrangements.

The report pack stated that the council has a statutory requirement to remove vehicles from the public highway, which supports road safety, traffic flow, and parking compliance under the Traffic Management Act 2004¹. The existing contract with Marston Group Ltd had expired, and a previous extension was in place. The current proposal was to award a new, short-term contract without competition through the GCA RM6347 Transport Technology Framework. This route was chosen due to the timescales involved, as a full procurement process was not considered feasible before the existing arrangements expired.

The report highlighted that continuing the vehicle removal service is essential for supporting the council's statutory parking enforcement duties, maintaining road safety, preventing congestion, and ensuring ongoing compliance with legislation. It was also noted that this service protects revenue streams and prevents the accumulation of uncollected vehicles. The proposed contract was stated to align with the council's Corporate Plan 2022-2026, which supports accessible and well-managed neighbourhoods.

The report pack indicated that the Director of Highways, Parking and Transportation was recommended to agree to the award of this contract. The financial implications detailed that funding was available within the service's budget for the proposed cost. The legal implications section confirmed that the proposed award route was compliant with the Procurement Act 2023² and the council's Contract Standing Orders.