To consider a report from the Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration.

1)    The Executive notes the content of the report.

2)    The Executive approves the proposal to award the contract for the provision of parking enforcement and ancillary services to the winning bidder.

3)    The Executive delegates authority to the Corporate Director of Place in consultation with the Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, Director of Finance, and Director of Legal & Governance and Monitoring Officer to agree final terms of the contract with the winning bidder.

4)    The Executive delegates authority to the Director of Legal and Governance and Monitoring Officer to enter into contracts as required to implement these recommendations.

The Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration advised that the

report seeks approval to award a new contract for parking enforcement and

ancillary services and asks to provide delegated authority to the Executive

Member for Economy and Regeneration and the Director of Place to provide the final terms of the contract with the new bidder. The current contract expires at the end of March 2024 and current arrangements have been extended by one year to enable a new contract to be coordinated with Stockport, Bolton and Tameside Councils. Procurement process is managed by STAR Procurement and represents an example of local authority partnership working to secure best value, economies of scale and access to a trained, secure and flexible workforce. We have been working closely with the aforementioned authorities to determine a contract specification and pricing schedule and will ensure to continue to deliver quality services which embraces new technology and smarter ways of deployment and ticketing. Tender submission must be delivered by 29 November 2023 and this will be evaluated during December 2023 and final approval is expected in January 2024.

The following queries were raised –

(i)             Why isn’t sufficient workforce being allowed to eliminate the illegal parking problem and balancing that cost from other sources of parking revenue. Wouldn’t permit holders be reassured to know that they are actually paying for the job to be done rather than part funded; and

(ii)            When the item came before the Executive earlier this year there was reference to cutting the time Wardens had to wait before issuing a ticket down to one minute where illegal parking was causing an obvious danger. Was this still being considered and is there any reason why that cannot be done immediately.

The Executive Member informed Members that everyone employed within parking enforcement will have a well paid an secure role. There is flexibility to cover from drawing on a wider pool of staff when extra support is needed around events and so employees will not eliminate their role by properly enforcing traffic in Trafford.

Regarding the one minute ticket issuing matter, the Director of Place advised that this is an issue that will be considered whilst dealing with time limits when the contract specification is being discussed.

With regard to a query as to the contract period calculation of an initial term of 5 years with an optional extension period of 2 years, plus a further 2 years and a final year, the Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration advised that this is a standard form of contract calculation and is gives the Council the opportunity if needed to review the contract at certain intervals.

RESOLVED:

1)    The Executive notes the content of the report;

2)    The Executive approves the proposal to award the contract for the provision of parking enforcement and ancillary services to the winning bidder;

3)    The Executive delegates authority to the Corporate Director of Place in consultation with the Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, Director of Finance, and Director of Legal & Governance and Monitoring Officer to agree final terms of the contract with the winning bidder; and

4)    The Executive delegates authority to the Director of Legal and Governance and Monitoring Officer to enter into contracts as required to implement these recommendations.