Issue - meetings

This report sets out a proposal to extend the GMC with Tivoli Group Limited (Tivoli) for a further five years. It provides detail concerning improvements and initiatives to achieve best value and support delivery of the Council Vision objectives detailed above.

[20 Minutes]

          Upon the invitation of the Chair, the Parks & Cemeteries Manager presented the report, which set out a proposal to extend the Greenspace Management Contract (GMC) with Tivoli Group Limited (Tivoli) for a further five years. It provided detail concerning improvements and initiatives to achieve best value and support the delivery of the Council Vision objectives.

          The Chair invited questions, and the following points were raised:

• It was asked what would happen with the contract with the impending local government restructure. The Parks & Cemeteries Manager explained that this was uncertain, however the likelihood was that the contract would remain in existence under the new structure, and extending the contract provided assurance.
• One Member expressed unease about the extension of contracts, which meant these contracts were not being formally tested. Officers explained that Tivoli’s overall performance was good, and this had been well received at the performance report update to the Committee in November and that extending on the same terms reduced any financial risk to the authority.
• It was asked why Members were being asked to note and not approve the contract renewal. The Environmental Services & Strategy Manager explained there was no requirement for the Committee to approve this, however Officers wanted to be completely open and transparent, which is why they had brought the matter to Committee.
• It was noted that Tivoli had recently been acquired by the Nurture Group, and it was asked how ADC could be confident these new owners would continue to deliver the service previously enjoyed. The Parks & Cemeteries Manager explained it was unclear how this would affect the delivery; however he felt comfortable with the situation. Nurture were a large organisation dedicated to ground maintenance.
• It was asked whether there was an argument for separating the grounds maintenance contract from the outdoor recreation contract in the future. The Parks & Cemeteries Manager explained there were various models that could be explored for outdoor recreation.
• It was asked whether there would be an opportunity for Councillors to contribute to discussions with Tivoli around priorities and future investment. The Parks & Cemeteries Manager felt it would be important for Members to contribute to ideas with a view to getting the public into outdoor spaces and using them for recreational purposes.
• Page 113 mentioned a proposal for a pop-up crazy golf course in Felpham, and it was asked whether Ward Members would be involved in such decisions. The Parks & Cemeteries Manager confirmed Ward Members would be consulted, and in the case of the pop-up golf this was a trial to achieve commercial viability for the site.
• It was asked why this report was not combined with the previous Greenspace Management Contract report at the November Environment Committee. Officers confirmed this was due to a timing issue, however understood bringing the two reports together would have been ideal.
• There had been a divide between the level of public satisfaction in the cleanliness of East and West of the District, and it was asked whether this tied into the GMC. The Environmental  ...  view the full minutes text for item 492