Agenda item - Sponsorship of Roundabouts

Report of the Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

1.                  The the Committee approves the procurement of a sponsorship concessionary agreement or agreements for two lots – firstly, for roundabouts and other floral displays and secondly, for the annual Sussex Festival of Nature on the basis set out in this report. The agreement(s) would be for a period of three years with the option of a two year extension.

2.                  That the Committee grants delegated authority to the Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing to award and let the concessionary agreement(s).

110.1          The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing that sought approval for the tendering of a concessionary agreement in which an external supplier would secure sponsorship from other organisations for a number of roundabouts and soft landscaping displays within the city and for the annual Sussex Festival of Nature held at Stanmer Park.

110.2          Councillor Mitchell noted that the financial implications of the report indicated that any income generated would be treated as revenue income within the City Infrastructure budget. Councillor Mitchell stated that park cleansing had been reduced in the most recent council budget and asked if any income from this scheme might be used to reverse that outcome.

110.3          The Head of Strategy & Projects clarified that the report proposed ringfencing income for improvements to the sites where sponsorship would be hosted. The Head of Strategy & Projects added that some of the sites identified required greater expenditure for improvement than others.

110.4          Councillor Theobald noted that since the sponsorship scheme was discontinued in 2010, the Conservative Party had made several request including two Notices of Motion to re-instate the scheme. Councillor Theobald asked why it had taken four years for the administration to realise the scheme was beneficial, a decision which had come at the cost of four years worth of income in a period when it was needed most.

110.5          The Chair stated that he understood the previous sponsorship was included amongst a number of other packages and therefore that specific element could not be re-negotiated.

110.6          Councillor Sykes stated that he would like the scheme to begin as quickly as possible and asked if introduction may take longer as the value of the sponsorship was below the EU procurement threshold.

110.7          The Deputy Head of Law clarified that all council procurements had to follow the basic requirements of transparency and there were differing arrangements for the authority dependent on the value of the scheme.

110.8          Councillor Hawtree asked for further information on whether the companies considered for the contract were assessed on their business practices.

110.9          The Head of Projects & Strategy clarified that each applicant was assessed using the criteria set out in line with the corporate contract already in place for the council.

110.10      Councillor Robins enquired as to whether the council could withdraw from any agreement if the company responsible for sponsorship were implicated in unethical practice.

110.11      The Deputy Head of Law clarified that the council reserved the right to withhold or suspend any agreement in the event of a change in circumstances in accordance with its own guidelines on the matter.

110.12      Councillor Sykes stated that City in Bloom was seeking to improve the flowerbed located with the cities welcome sign ahead of their City in Bloom event in the summer.

110.13      The Head of Strategy & Projects stated that this location as know as Barcombe Flowerbed and council officers would be tidying this area in early May.

110.14      The Chair added that City in Bloom would be advertised on all roundabout signage.

110.15      Councillor Cox stated that he welcomed this proposal and the principle of community groups undertaking other maintenance duties as many had interesting ideas and in his opinion there were some services that did not need to be delivered by the local authority.

110.16      Councillor Janio stated that his agreement with Councillor Cox adding that he believed the scheme should not have been stopped in 2010. Councillor Janio added that he hoped this proposal might lead to some more imaginative ways to bring sponsorship into the city.

110.17      Councillor Hawtree stated is approval of the proposals and that the locations needing investment would receive it. Councillor Hawtree supplemented that he thought that further locations should have been considered in Portslade.

110.18      RESOLVED-

1.            That the Committee approves the procurement of a sponsorship concessionary agreement or agreements for two lots – firstly, for roundabouts and other floral displays and secondly, for the annual Sussex Festival of Nature on the basis set out in this report. The agreement(s) would be for a period of three years with the option of a two year extension.

2.            That the Committee grants delegated authority to the Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing to award and let the concessionary agreement(s).