Decision details

RESOLVED that:

A     The Best Value Review into Harlow Trading Services (Property and Environment) Ltd (HTS) and associated recommendations be received.

B    HTS be advised that the current contract will be extended for the maximum five year period provided for within the current contract subject to (C) below.

C    Subject to B being approved above:

             i)        The recommendations of the Best Value report be adopted as an action plan for the contract extension with the recommendations below required to be completed as part of the pre-contract extension process:

a)    Variation of the cost reporting structure for HTS to correlate with the Council’s cost centre arrangements (Economy Recommendation 1);

b)    The annual contractual price indexation being changed (Economy Recommendation 2);

c)    The setting of the mix of third party works, and directly awarded Council capital works, the Local Authority Trading Company (LATC) is to deliver (Economy Recommendation 3);

d)    Alternative mechanisms for penalty and/or reward under the contract, are put in place (Economy Recommendation 17); and

            ii)        The Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, is delegated authority to negotiate and agree all matters in respect of the extension of the contract for the continued provision of services by HTS.

D    The ‘Business as Usual’ activities in Appendix 2 of Appendix A are monitored for their completion by the Shareholder Sub Committee.