Agenda item - Procurement of a new contract for parking enforcement on Housing land

Report of Executive Director for Neighbourhoods, Communities & Housing (copy attached).

(1)    That the Committee grants delegated authority to the Executive Director for Neighbourhoods Communities and Housing to take all steps necessary to:

(i) Procure and award a contract for off street parking enforcement to cover car parks and garage sites on Housing land for a term of four years;

(ii) Approve an extension to the contract referred to in (i) above for a period of up to 1 year following the initial four year term, subject to satisfactory performance by the provider.

9.1     The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Neighbourhoods, Communities & Housing which sought approval and authorisation with regard to the recommendations in section 2 of the report to undertake competitive tendering for the provision of an off street parking enforcement service to cover car parks and garage sites on Housing land. The existing contract for parking enforcement on Housing land was due to expire on 30 November 2018. The report was presented by Housing Services Operations Manager.

9.2     Councillor Atkinson referred to recommendation 2.2 (i) and paragraph 3.9 regarding a task and finish group. He asked how these paragraphs aligned with each other. Councillor Atkinson also requested that road markings and signage were made clear. The Housing Services Operations Manager replied that paragraph 3.9 referred to the Task and Finish Group. The paper had been taken to the Housing Area Panels and it seemed sensible for the residents to review the work. She agreed that there should be clearer signage.

9.3     Councillor Moonan referred to the finances. The HRA received 13% of the revenue and the report indicated that that was likely to increase. She asked how much it was likely to increase. Councillor Moonan noted that the estimated contract was worth £47,000. She asked if that was net or profit after the provider had taken out their costs and did the council take 13% of that £47,000. Questions were raised as to how much profit was appropriate and to what extent could it be benchmarked against other services. The Housing Services Operations Manager explained that officers were seeking advice from the Procurement Team, looking at comparable services with other local authorities. She could not say at the moment what the increase would be.  In terms of the £47,000 and the income that goes to the contractor, she could confirm that they would receive all the revenue that they collected. The Housing Services Operations Manager understood that the council received 13% of the gross income but she could provide clarity about that.   

9.4     Councillor Bell asked if the report would be coming back to committee for final sign off. He also requested a written response to Councillor Moonan’s questions. The Housing Services Operations Manager replied that she would be happy to provide a written response to councillors and bring a report back to the Committee at a later date.  The Executive Director stated that although a report could come back to Committee with details of the offer, she stressed that the procurement rules were set out in a very specific way and the details might have to be anonymised.

9.5     Councillor Gibson drew attention to the reference to the contractor collecting charges and fines. He asked for it to be confirmed that this was not the permit payment that would go to the HRA. With regard to the payment for the permits, Councillor Gibson stated that the regular charge for a council tenant per year for a parking space worked out at around £340 a year.  Meanwhile in a CPZ a resident could be paying £130 for a parking space. Councillor Gibson was concerned that the council were charging so much to tenants. Councillor Gibson welcomed the Task and Finish Group which would look at charges, and asked officers to look at this issue to ensure this was affordable to tenants.   The Housing Services Operations Manager explained that the income from the rental from bays and garages went to the HRA and did not go to the service provider. Permits and charges would be reviewed by the Task & Finish Group. These spaces were dedicated spaces which was different to the CPZ which was uncontrolled parking. 

9.6     Councillor Gibson asked for clarity regarding a situation where an area was surrounded by a controlled parking zone. He asked if tenants would still be allowed to access permits in those zones. It was explained there had been issues in the past in the Hanover and Elm Grove area, however tenants could now apply for permits in the CPZ. 

9.7           RESOLVED:-

(1)      That the Committee grants delegated authority to the Executive Director for Neighbourhoods Communities and Housing to take all steps necessary to:

(i) Procure and award a contract for off street parking enforcement to cover car parks and garage sites on Housing land for a term of four years;

(ii) Approve an extension to the contract referred to in (i) above for a period of up to 1 year following the initial four year term, subject to satisfactory performance by the provider.