Agenda and minutes

          The Minutes of the meeting held on 14^th October 2010 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

          The Sub Committee considered a report which sought a waiver of tendering Procurement Standing Orders to allow the Operational Director (Highways, Transportation and Logistics) to enter into a Contract for survey, maintenance and improvement works on Public Rights of Way with Groundwork Merseyside without tendering.

          It was noted that Groundwork Merseyside (formally Mersey Valley Partnership) had worked closely with the Council for a number of years and had carried out a significant amount of work on the Public Rights of Way network. This approach had been beneficial to the Council and Groundwork also brought added value for the following reasons:

• their knowledge and expertise in the detailed design and management of works on site, the Rights of Way network and landowners;

• enabling of volunteers (900 person hours in the last financial year) and those on Supported Employment and Future Jobs Fund Schemes;

• leverage of additional funding;

• a whole package of identifying (via the SLA) and delivering work, saving Council officer time in design, management and dealing with legal issues with little intervention from officers;

• significant experience in the type of works required; and

• partnership approach.

          Members noted that Officers had considered two alternative options. Firstly, the existing terms contracts had been examined but these did not have sufficient scope of works for all minor works to Public Rights of Way. Secondly quotations could be sought through the Due North system. However, detailed designs and specifications would need to be produced in advance for each type of work and the administrative aspects of Public Rights of Way maintenance and improvements. This would place a demand on officer time and costs and produce delays.

          RESOLVED: That

1)       the Operational Director (Highways, Transportation and Logistics) be authorised to award a contract for survey, maintenance and improvement works on Public Rights of Way (PROW) to the contractor GROUNDWORK MERSEYSIDE covering the financial years 2010/11 and 2011/12 for a period from 4th November 2010 to 4th November 2011, to be funded from the approved capital and revenue budgets for PROW maintenance and improvements for these years, and

2)       that in light of the exceptional circumstances, namely the combination of functions that Groundwork bring to the service as referred to in this report, and in accordance with Procurement SO 1.8.2, Standing Orders 3.1-3.6 be waived on this occasion.

          The Sub-Committee received a report from the Operational Director – Financial Services on the Treasury Management 2010/11 2^nd Quarter (July to September) which updated the Sub-Committee on activities undertaken on the Money Market as required by the Treasury Management Policy (TMP).  The Operational Director reported on the current economic background based upon information supplied by the Council’s treasury management advisors, and the economic forecast provided by Sector.

          The report provided supporting information on the short-term rates, longer-term rates, temporary borrowing/ investments, longer-term borrowing/investments and policy guidelines. It was noted that all the policy guidelines in the TMP had been complied with, with the exception of the Approved Counterparty List. A deposit was placed with Natwest, the Council’s own bank, which exceeded the deposit limit by £1.6 million for 1 day in July.  

          RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

MINUTES ISSUED:  9^th November 2010

CALL IN:    15^th November 2010

Any matter decided by the Executive Board Sub Committee may be called in no later than 15^th November 2010.