Green spaces – maintenance contract out to tender

Why

Our grounds maintenance contract, which means that your shared green spaces are looked after, is coming to an end so we are asking firms to quote for the work. We will ensure the appointed contractor provides a service which is consistent in quality, gives value for money and meets the required standards which will be published in the near future.

When

We hope to award the new contract by the end of September and for the contractor to be in place by 1st November.

How

Staff and customers are being kept involved throughout the process. We have a panel evaluating the bids, which includes our Customer Engagement Manager, Head of Repairs, and Grounds Maintenance and Arboricultural Officer. The Customer Engagement Manager has been consulting with customers to ensure their views are represented at every stage of the project. As this contract will affect leaseholders too, we have also been consulting with them throughout the project.

Benefiting your communities

As part of the tender process, we ask each contractor to show us how they will help to:

1. Support communities into employment - such as trainee initiatives, employment opportunities for young people via job centres and colleges, and assisting school leavers with CV writing and interview techniques
2. Support those experiencing hardship - such as providing work opportunities for the unemployed, training and free online courses in their area of expertise
3. Promote environmental sustainability - such as their plans to minimise vehicle movements, move towards electric vehicles and manage waste
4. Support the local economy - such as seeking to employ a qualified engineer from the geographical areas we cover within the first three months
5. Provide safe, thriving and resilient neighbourhoods - such as creating volunteering opportunities, enabling community development and engagement, contributing to the health improvement programme and addressing health inequalities.