Decision details

The Council operates an in-house model of grounds maintenance and the Parks Service carries out grounds maintenance for all green space the Council owns, excluding schools. On a routine basis both vehicle and plant items need to be replaced as they become end of life. In addition, the service changes over time. Over the last 5+ years working methods and equipment needs have migrated to respond to change factors affecting the service, for example the better management of hand-arm vibration, areas of scrub and woodland left unmanaged need to be brought back into a specification, and managing more land in a way that benefits nature.

To approve capital funds allocated at Full Council in February 2024 for the procurement of operational equipment required to deliver grounds maintenance and managing for nature objectives in parks and green spaces.

Option 1 - The Council could procure services rather than buy equipment for its in-house service, but this would require a change in operating model which is not proposed, as the in-house model has proved better for controlling costs.
The Council could choose not to procure and use existing equipment. However a significant equipment replacement programme took place in 2014, and we did not procure any major items of new equipment until 2023, when a new replacement programme was necessarily put in place. This is the third procurement round of this programme which will now be paused and reviewed for 2027.
The Council has reviewed the condition of its operational equipment and replaced items that have been scrapped, items that are becoming uneconomic to maintain and has replaced some stolen items. Where replacement items can meet changing operational efficiency needs by being to a different specification, this has been implemented.