This meeting's agenda included the potential award of two contracts relating to parking, one for enforcement and operations, the other for school crossing patrol staffing.

Parking Contract Award

A report by Lorraine Delahunty, the council's Head of Traffic & Parking, on the subject of a new Parking Enforcement and Operations contract was provided for the committee. The report requested that the committee recommend that the council approves the award of this contract, and the power to award the contract for school crossing patrol staffing be delegated to Alan Richards, Executive Director for Environment & Place.

The report explained that the existing contract, held by an unnamed provider, was due to expire on 31 January 2025. To allow time for a handover to the new provider, the contract would commence on 1 February 2025. The report stated that the successful bidder had been chosen from those on the CCS Framework because of its value for money and ease of use. The report recommends a 5 year contract for the Parking Enforcement and Operations – Civil Enforcement Operations & Technology System, and a 4 year contract for the School Crossing Patrol staffing.

The report described the two-stage procurement process. It explained that Southend-on-Sea City Council evaluated the bids based on a 60% weighting for quality and a 40% weighting for price. The report provided more detail on the evaluation process in a confidential appendix not available to the public.

The concluded tender exercise is a new opportunity to ensure that the budget is aligned appropriately with the true cost of contract provision.

The report seeks authorisation to withhold the identity of the bidders for the contract.

The identity of the bidders is commercially sensitive and must remain confidential while the procurement process is active. Elected Members will be informed once the standstill period concludes.

The report explained that the budget for the provision of parking enforcement had been set at £1.45m. It also explained that, due to an increase in both the costs of and demand for parking enforcement, an overspend of £0.45m per year had been typical. The report's author argued that awarding the contract would provide an opportunity to set a more realistic budget, and to ensure a surplus could be generated that could be spent on transport related projects.

The report concluded by recommending that the Place Scrutiny Committee recommend to the council's cabinet that the contract be awarded.