Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Supporting Places)         

The Stockport Trafford Alliance Partnering Contract expires on the 31st March 2017. In 2009 Stockport and Trafford Council launched a Strategic Alliance known as the "Stockport Trafford Alliance Framework" to maintain and improve roads and highway structures within the boroughs. This was a long term partnering arrangement with specialist contractors based on the NEC3 contract, procured collaboratively by the two Councils. Stockport Council has reviewed a proposed extension by the Contractors looking at: Value for Money, Quality and Customer Care and its current and predicted highway infrastructure work programme.

The Executive is recommended to approve a 2-year extension of the alliance Partnering Contract from the 1st April 2017.

Officer contact: Pete Price, 0161 474 4901, pete.price@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Places) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive is approve a two-year extension of the Stockport Trafford Alliance Partnering Contract from 1 April 2017, for the procurement of specialist contractors for the maintenance and improvement of road and highway structures, in view of the effectiveness of the arrangements to date.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the extension of the Stockport Trafford Alliance Partnering Contract for a further two years from 1 April 2017 until 31 March 2019.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive

The report sets out a proposal for a further two years extension of the Alliance Partnering Contract for highway infrastructure construction works to allow its use up to 1 April 2019.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to support the proposal.

Officer Contact: Pete Price on 0161 474b 4901 or email: pete.price@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out a proposal for a further two years’ extension of the Stockport Trafford Alliance Partnering Contract from 1 April 2017 for the procurement of specialist contractors for the maintenance and improvement of road and highway structures in view of the effectiveness of the arrangements to date.

The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting to be held on 16 February 2016.

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Places) (Councillor Martin Candler) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         A Member asked how much the Council had saved as a result of being part of the alliance. The value for money to the Council of being part of the alliance needed to be quantified and monitored on a regular basis.

·         An independent review of the tendered rates in 2011 and 2015 had established that the majority of rates included in the pricing documents were lower in value when compared to other representative cost data.

·         An additional benefit to being part of the alliance was free advice from partners. The alliance was a well tested framework and remaining in the framework also offered the advantage of continuity.

·         In response to a Member’s question regarding the cost of materials to the Council, it was clarified that construction market inflation differed from the general rate of inflation.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Executive Meeting be advised that this Scrutiny Committee supports a further two years’ extension of the Stockport Trafford Alliance Partnering Contract for a further two years from 1 April 2017 until 31 March 2019.

(2) That the performance of the alliance be monitored and reported on a regular basis with information included in future Portfolio Performance and Resources reports.