Issue - meetings

To receive a report on the proposed decision to re-procure a contract/s for the Soft Landscape Rural Swathe and Visibility Cutting service

(Mr R Diplock, Soft Landscape Manager attended the meeting for this item).

1.         Mr Diplock introduced the report which invited comment on the proposed decision to re-procure the Soft Landscape Rural Swathe and Visibility Contract.

2.         Mr Diplock advised on an amendment to the recommendation, to change the amount from £300k to £1 million per year.

3.         Mr Diplock, Soft Landscape Manager, and Mr Wilkin, Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste, then responded to questions and comments raised by Members, and made points including the following:

(a)  Reductions would not take place for safety critical issues, savings would be made on discretionary work areas only.

(b)  The programme of works was based on what was a reasonable level, but also included an element of reactive works.

(c)  Additional weed spraying had been funded by an underspend from the previous financial year.  It had been agreed to use any future underspends for this area too.

(d)  The contract focussed on rural hedges and junctions, and there was a separate contract for urban visibility cutting.

4.         RESOLVED that the proposed decision of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport to re-procure and delegate authority to the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste to award a contract/s for the Soft Landscape Rural Swathe and Visibility Cutting service as shown at Appendix A of the report, subject to the amendment set out at (1.) be endorsed.