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Decision details
Tree maintenance contract extension 2024
Decision Maker: Director: Management of Place
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Purpose:
The Council manages and maintains its tree and
woodland assets and carries out tree works to maintain the safety
of persons or property, prevent nuisance and maintain tree health
as required following inspection. Works include tree or tree limb
removal, pollarding, canopy reduction, epicormic growth removal
etc. Such works are committed through our tree maintenance
contract.
The Council is required to give 12-months’ notice of an
extension decision to the tree maintenance contractor Gristwood and
Toms.
The decision will enable the Council to continue to carry out
necessary works to trees to maintain public safety and manage the
heath of trees and woodlands beyond 31st March 2025 and up to 31st
March 2027.
Decision:
Approval of a 2-year contract extension with
Gristwood and Toms for tree management works permitted under the
contract terms agreed in April 2020.
Alternative options considered:
Option 1 - Procure new contract - Contractor
rates from the original tender process were competitive within
seven responses. Market rates likely to have increased due to
impact of Ash Dieback mitigation work affecting multiple
landowners.
Option 2 - Shorter contract extension - Does not incentivise a
cost-effective approach to Ash Dieback through an investment in
staff resources by the contractor.
Option 3 - Longer contract extension - Some uncertainty remains
over contractor performance in relation to Council contract
management which it is advised to resolve before making a
longer-term commitment.
Option 4 - Bring service in house - Recruitment to qualified staff
is proving increasingly difficult. Time better spent managing risk
at present than restructuring. No current evidence of enhanced
value for money.
Publication date: 08/04/2024
Date of decision: 28/03/2024