Decision details

The Council’s winter service fleet included dedicated gritters and associated winter service equipment, which was previously maintained through a contract with Kent County Council.  The contract ended on 5th April 2019 and during the past 12 months; a review of how the operation of the fleet could be improved had been ongoing. The report considered options that would best support the winter service activity in respect of management and maintenance going forward.

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The Assistant Director of Highways presented the report which considered the options for the management and maintenance of the Winter Service Fleet going forward.

A Member asked if the management and maintenance work could be given to a smaller business or contractor. The Assistant Director of Highways responded that this was not possible due to the specialist nature of the equipment.

A Member highlighted the term ‘management’ in the recommendation, and asked for clarification concerning what this meant. It was explained that this referred to the fact that JB Riney’s name would be used on the log books of the vehicles. This would make the contract easier to operate. It did not mean that ownership was being conferred to JB Riney—it just meant that JB Riney would be registered as the keeper of the vehicles.

JB Riney would then be responsible (for the next two years) for maintaining, insuring and servicing the vehicles. There would be no changes in the way that the vehicles would be deployed. 

Members discussed the cost of the contract and why it was being proposed as a two year contract instead of over one year. The Assistant Director of Highways explained that a two year contract was required to ensure reliability of the existing service and that during the two year period LBB would be developing a programme to provide replacement gritters and the establishment of a London Emission Zone compliant fleet.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder is recommended to agree that maintenance and management of the Council’s winter service fleet is incorporated into the Highway Minor Works Contract provided by JB Riney, via a variation to the contract at an estimated cost of £86,000 p.a. for the next two years.