Issue - meetings

Background:

This report sought permission to award a contract to the service provider to deliver the Housing Landlord Service Estate Services function (Caretakers).

It was explained that one of the key priorities of the housing service in Medway was to provide high quality, cost effective services and, as a landlord, Medway Council had a duty to ensure the communal areas of its housing stock were kept tidy and safe.

The estate service function (caretakers) was subject to charges that were applied via tenant rent accounts and leaseholder service charge accounts. It was noted that all leaseholders were notified in August 2014 of Medway’s intention to start this procurement process. Further notices would be issued following receipt of the final tenders in May 2015 and leaseholders would ultimately be advised which supplier had been awarded the contract. Tenants and Leaseholders were also involved in the development of the specification and represented on the interview panel.

It was noted that Cabinet had approved the decision to proceed with this procurement on 28 October 2014 (decision 185/2014).

This Gateway 3 Report has been approved for submission to Cabinet after review and discussion at the Regeneration, Community and Culture Directorate Management Team Meeting on 14 May 2015 and the Procurement Board on 17 June 2015.

An exempt appendix contained key information relating to the financial analysis of the scheme, evaluation and award.

Reasons:

Approval of the contract will ensure the Council meets its obligations as a landlord to ensure the communal areas of its housing stock are kept tidy and safe. The contractor has suggested improvements to the service, which will contribute to increasing the overall customer satisfaction for the housing landlord service in Medway.