Decision details

Proposed Decision:

To procure and delegate authority to the Director of Highways and Transportation to award and enter into appropriate contractual arrangements for the provision of Highway Weed Control including any potential extension periods in accordance with the expectations set out in the report.

Further Information:

The Council has a legal duty to keep roads and pavements clear of vegetation for safe passage of highway users. The main service areas comprise; the control of weeds within hard surfaces; the control of invasive and injurious weeds such as Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed and Ragwort; the management of invasive species such as oak processionary moth and brown tail moth. Due to the specialised nature of the works a standalone specialist contract is required. The current contract expires on March 31st, 2023.

Two weed treatments per year will be provided across twelve districts in Kent.

To enable this delivery across the county the following lots are being sought:

•           Lot 1 - Dartford & Gravesham 

•           Lot 2 – Sevenoaks & Tonbridge & Malling

•           Lot 3 – Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells 

•           Lot 4 – Ashford & Swale

•           Lot 5 – Canterbury & Thanet

•           Lot 6 – Folkestone & Hythe

Other Options Considered:

Option 1 – Do Nothing

Discounted as The Council has a legal duty to keep roads and pavements clear of vegetation for safe passage of highway users.

Option 2 – Deliver in House

Discounted as this is not a core service to the authority. Due to the limited period to apply weed control, the staff would not be utilised all year round and this is of specialist nature.

Option 3 – Procure one provider to deliver the county

Discounted as unlikely to access SME providers and fails to provide resilience throughout the county.

As Cabinet Member for Highways & Transport I agree to procure and delegate authority to the Director of Highways and Transportation to award and enter into appropriate contractual arrangements for the provision of Highway Weed Control including any potential extension periods.