Agenda item

A report was presented which appraised Members of the discussions that had taken place at a recent workshop which reflected on the current Environmental commissioning and considered the options available.

The current environmental contract with Twiggs GM Ltd will conclude on

31 March 2023.  A discussion ensued to discuss the pro’s and con’s of the future options available.  The preference of the Members present was to proceed with Option 1 to work with BMBC Neighbourhood Services to develop a Service Level Agreement (SLA) based upon the costs as detailed within the report.  As not all Members were in attendance, an email would be sent out to all Members of the North Area Council to seek their support to progress Option 1 within a specified timeframe.  Should the continued absence of Old Town Ward Members create a delay, it was suggested that a formal decision via the Cabinet Spokesperson for Public Health and Communities would be reached within the next few weeks which would enable the SLA to be signed off by the end of February 2023.  In the meanwhile, the Area Manager would make the relevant provisions.  This option would involve performance management meetings with the operational supervisors of the internal partner for the first 6 month period to address any issues.

The Area Manager was asked to produce a timeline document for internal use, to show the key dates and determination which would provide an understanding of how Members had reached the selection Option 1.  It was explained that the decision making timeline could be understood by referring to the previous North Area Council report, which document discussions and workshop outcomes. 

In relation to the maximum contract value for the new service provision for a value of £125,000 p.a. over a two year duration, it was suggested that the SLA would be in place for a duration of 12 months, with an option to extend for a further year.  Consideration would also be given to ascertain future providers in the event that the current providers did not wish to proceed beyond years 1 or 2.

Recommended -

(i)         that Members note the current position, section 4 of the report;

(ii)        that the discussion that took place at the workshop on 20 December    

           2022, at section 6 of the report be noted;

(iii)       that the draft specification as at Appendix 2 of the report be approved;

(iv)      that robust Clean and Green Agreements be developed with each of

           the Ward  Alliances, to mitigate duplication risk, as detailed in section 7  

           of the report;

(v)        that the Environmental Priority and how value will be added to BMBC’s  

           core offer, as detailed in section 8 of the report be approved;

(vi)       that the proposed BMBC Neighbourhood Service’s Community

           Caretaker model be noted;

(vii)      that approval be given for a Service Level Agreement with

           Neighbourhood Services, based on the Community Caretaker Model,     

           and specification at Appendix 2, at a contract value of £100,803 per    

           annum for an initial period of one year with an option to extend for a further year, with a £24,197 per annum contingency, the use of which to be approved by the Service Director Communities following consultation with the North Area Councillors.