Decision - Transport Term Contract

1.     That the Director of Environment be given delegated authority to approve appointment of consultants identified through the Transport Term Consultancy tender process.

1.     Because the value of works awarded through the consultancy agreement has potential to exceed £500,000, Cabinet Member approval is required to appoint the consultants.

2.     The Cabinet Member will not have an opportunity to approve appointment of consultants until after the existing PBA contract has expired. If the Cabinet Member gives the Director of Environment delegated authority to approve the appointments, the new agreement can begin as soon as the existing arrangement ends, offering the council constant access to services it may wish to draw on.

1.     The alternative to a term contract is multiple single commissions as and when consultant support is required. However this approach would not offer value for money offered by consistency of approach. Also more internal resource would be required to manage what could be many individual tender processes.

2.     A framework contract is preferable to an agreement with a single consultant as this retains the benefits associated with a consistent approach whilst offering the council greater choice – and therefore flexibility and assurance of value for      money.