Issue - meetings

To receive the report from the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport and Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport and to consider and endorse or make recommendations to the Cabinet member on the proposed decisionto agree the two year extension to the Highways Term Maintenance Contract.

The committee received a report seeking endorsement of, or recommendations to the Cabinet Member of Environment and Transport on the proposed extension from September 2016 – 2018 of the Highways Term Maintenance that is currently let to Enterprise AOL (now Amey.) The content of exempt appendix E2 was also discussed alongside this item.

Roger Wilkin, Interim Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste, introduced the report and provided the following further information in response to comments made and questions raised by members:

      i.        That member engagement will be weaved into a truly strategic commissioning process.

    ii.        Reassurance was given that activity on the next commissioning process will be accelerated.

   iii.        It was emphasised in response to concerns about the current contract that Amey had underperformed in only two areas. This has been dealt with and these two areas have since seen improvement.

   iv.        That due to these past issues with underperformance the extension is only for two years as opposed to a full five.

    v.        That although a five year contract would cost less per year the two year contract was considered a better decision due to the previous concerns with underperformance. Mr Wilkin clarified performance would continue to monitored.

David Beaver, Head of Commercial Management and Waste Services, was also in attendance to discuss the item and gave the following information;

      i.        The current contract was tendered and let in August 2011.

    ii.        As some of the SE7 authorities are tendering in the next two years it would not be the best time for re-tendering. Mr Butler was concerned the best of the market would not be available at this time.

   iii.        Legally Kent County Council could extend the contract to a maximum of five years.

Mr Balfour, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, explained to the committee that to ensure the internal needs of KCC are met appropriate time must be given to undertake a detailed commission process. This would allow an appropriate commission to be achieved for a more outcome focussed contract.

It was RESOLVED that that the proposed decision for the Cabinet Member to agree the proposed two year extension to the Highways Term Maintenance contract and that Highways, Transportation and Waste undertake a full review in line with the recently published Commissioning Framework.