Purpose

Proposed Decision:
 
a)   
APPROVE the procurement and contract award of zero value Local
Highways Maintenance Support Contracts
 
b)   
DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director of Growth Environment
and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways
and Transport, to take relevant actions, including but not limited
to, awarding, finalising the terms of and entering into the
relevant contracts or other legal agreements, as necessary, to
implement the decision;
 
c)   
DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director of Growth Environment
and Transport, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways
and Transport, to award extensions of the contracts in accordance
with the relevant clauses within the contracts.
 
 
Background
 
Our 5,400 miles of
road network in Kent has a replacement value of £10.2
billion. It plays a vital part in delivering council objectives set
out in Framing Kent’s Future by enabling
safe and reliable journeys around and through the county –
keeping Kent moving. Our roads support social wellbeing and
economic prosperity. They are essential for emergency services to
execute their work: policing, healthcare, fire, and emergency
response provision all require an effective highway network. These
services are a key part of a functioning society which cannot exist
without well-maintained and well-managed roads.
 
Under S.41 of the
Highways Act 1980 the council has the legal duty to maintain its
highways and all highway assets (e.g. bridges, tunnels, drainage
etc). This duty includes responsibility for maintaining, managing
and where necessary improving sections of the network and to keep
the highways safe for the travelling public. These contractor
services need to be commissioned externally to ensure the Council
meets its statutory obligations and that service continuity is
maintained.
 
The Local Highways
Maintenance Support Contracts augments delivery of highway
maintenance services directly at a local level for the residents
and businesses of Kent. The works undertaken as part of these
contracts are managed by the local Highway Managers and their teams
ensuring the budgets are spent appropriately to repair and prevent
potholes and improve highway condition at those
locations.
 
The core services
included in these contracts relates to the delivery of pothole
repairs, small to medium size patching repairs and small-scale
resurfacing and associated works. It also supports resources that
can be utilised during emergency and severe weather events should
it be necessary.
 

Options:
These
contracts are in support of the Highways Term Maintenance Contract
and have been utilised in that capacity for many years. The current
arrangements are due to expire and therefore new contracts are
required to be procured as there are no further options to
extend. 
 
Do
nothing.
This
option has been ruled out. These contracts have supported delivery
of highways maintenance and repairs very successfully over many
years and are required to ensure delivery and resilience in the
service. They also ensure that any additional grant funding can be
utilised to maximum benefit and within the spend requirements of
the grant.
 
How
the proposed decision supports Framing Kent’s Future
2022-2026: (https://www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/strategies-and-policies/corporate-policies/our-council-strategy)
 
The
proposed decision relates to Framing Kent’s Future
priority Infrastructure for communities by ensuring our
highways are safe and reliable for people to access employment,
education, health provision and leisure opportunities
 
How
the proposed decision supports Securing Kent’s
Future: Securing
Kents Future - Budget Recovery
Strategy.pdf 

 
The
proposed decision relates to Securing Kent’s Future to review
all contract spend to ensure the new contract delivers best value
for money.
 

Decision

As Cabinet Member
for Highways and Transport, I agree to:
 
(i)       APPROVE the
procurement and contract award of zero value Local Highways
Maintenance Support Contracts.
 
(ii)       DELEGATE authority
to the Corporate Director of Growth Environment & Transport in
consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, to
take relevant actions, including but not limited to, awarding,
finalising the terms of and entering into the relevant contracts or
other legal agreements, as necessary, to implement the decision;
and
 
(iii)      DELEGATE authority to the
Corporate Director of Growth Environment and Transport, in
consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, to
award extensions of the contracts in accordance with the relevant
clauses within the contracts