Council’s new highways and environment contractor is confirmed

Shropshire Council has this week confirmed Ringway Infrastructure Services Ltd as their new partner who, as from April 2012, will maintain the roads and deliver streetscene services across the county. 

Ringway was selected as the preferred bidder from a shortlist of five at the council’s Cabinet meeting last month (Wednesday 16 November 2011). 

This new six-year contract, which was part of a pioneering shared contract procurement process with neighbouring Cheshire West and Chester Council, will start on 1 April 2012 and will save the council around £600,000 per year. 

Councillor Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member, said:

“The tender assessment has been thorough, and the contract has been awarded to the company which submitted the best bid both in terms of price and quality. 

“By working together with Cheshire West and Chester Council to share expertise and resources, this new contract presents us with a potential additional saving of around £700,000 per year between the two councils (on top of the £600,000 saved by us as a result of retendering the contract).  This means that it will provide excellent value for money for Shropshire residents. 

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Enterprise Plc (previously JDM Accord) for the excellent service they have provided over the last 10 years.  I wish the company well for the future.” 

Brian Moss, Ringway’s regional director, said:

“We are delighted to have won these contracts and are very much looking forward to working with Shropshire Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council to deliver a variety of highways and streetscene services.  It was a very thorough procurement process, and I am extremely proud of the team working on these projects.  We already have experience of working in similar collaborative arrangements with other councils and we will bring this experience to the region.  We are extremely excited about working alongside both councils and are dedicated to delivering a high quality and efficient, customer-focused service.” 

The contract will cover all aspects of highways maintenance, highways improvements, gully emptying, grass cutting, bridges repair and maintenance, streetlighting maintenance and streetscene. 

There is an option to extend the six-year contract for a further four years, subject to the contractor’s high performance. 

Staff will transfer to the new provider under TUPE regulations on their current terms and conditions of employment.