Decision - Approval to procure street lighting maintenance contract

(1)         That the Cabinet Member authorises the Director of Environment to:

(a)         To enter into a procurement process with ESCC to tender for the maintenance of the highway street lighting, illuminated signs and bollards stock.

(b)         To present a future report to the Cabinet Member outlining the results of the procurement process and seeking permission to proceed with appointing the contractor.

1.      The Council has a duty maintain regulatory signs / bollards and also to maintain the public highway street lighting in a safe condition. This Contract facilitates this requirement.

2.      This contract succeeds the current Highway Street Lighting Maintenance Contract that terminates on 31st March 2010.

1.      At this current time, this form of EU procurement tendered jointly with East Sussex is considered to be the most suitable.  Timescales and resources issues within Brighton & Hove mean that alternatives are unlikely to produce good value for money and a robust contract specification.

2.      The contract is being tendered for 2 years 5 months with optional extensions so this gives Brighton & Hove an opportunity to re-consider alternative options within 2 years 5 months.

3.      The only other alternative is not to tender at all but this would leave Brighton & Hove City Council without any contract for the maintenance of the street lighting, illuminated signs and bollards, with a resulting safety risk and failure in its duty to maintain.