Issue - meetings

To revisit the Grounds Maintenance contract and plan for the end of the current extended contract on 31 October 2026.

The appendices to this report comprise exempt information – to exclude the public (including the press) from a meeting of a committee it is necessary for the following proposition to be moved and adopted: “that the public be excluded from the meeting for items which would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs 3 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) as indicated”.

AGREED to authorise officers to enter negotiations to extend the existing contract for a period of two years and to delegate authority to the Portfolio Holders for Finance and Grounds Maintenance to approve the final proposals arrived at during negotiations as set out in Exempt Appendix 1 of the report; and

Request that if an appropriate best value outcome cannot be achieved via the negotiations, that officers should report back to Cabinet with a full and updated assessment of all the remaining options available for determination; and

authorises the Monitoring Officer to execute and complete all requisite legal documentation in relation to the matters outlined above.  

Members considered the Grounds Maintenance Contract 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027 report presented by Councillor Mrs French.

Councillor Boden said that although the whole report is not exempt, he suggested a move to exempt session immediately given the nature of the discussion members will need to have in order to come to a conclusion. This was agreed.

Proposed by Councillor Mrs French, seconded by Councillor Boden and AGREED to authorise officers to enter negotiations to extend the existing contract for a period of two years and to delegate authority to the Portfolio Holders for Finance and Grounds Maintenance to approve the final proposals arrived at during negotiations as set out in Exempt Appendix 1 of the report; and

Request that if an appropriate best value outcome cannot be achieved via the negotiations, that officers should report back to Cabinet with a full and updated assessment of all the remaining options available for determination; and

authorise the Monitoring Officer to execute and complete all requisite legal documentation in relation to the matters outlined above. 

(Members resolved to exclude the public from the meeting for this item of business on the grounds that it involved the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).