18/01/2013 - Permalink

Scrutiny to review the performance of the highways and environmental contract

Related topics: Uncategorized

Shropshire Council’s Protecting and Enhancing our Environment scrutiny committee will look into the performance of the highways and environmental contractor, Ringway and the measures in place to improve service delivery at their meeting next week (Monday 21 January 2013).

The six-year contract (with an option to extend this for a further four years, subject to high performance) to maintain the roads and deliver streetscene services across Shropshire started on 1 April 2012. It was part of a pioneering shared contract procurement process with neighbouring Cheshire West and Chester Council which will save the council around £600,000 per year on previous arrangements.

Although this contract got off to a reasonably disappointing start, particularly in the area of ICT and system solutions, a robust improvement plan and regular monitoring meetings are in place and the council is continually seeing services delivered in a better and more efficient way.

Councillor Vince Hunt, Chair of protecting and enhancing our environment scrutiny committee, said:

“I am pleased to be having this open and honest look at how the contract is rolling out. This openness will help to ensure that initial issues are overcome in a speedy manner, and set the scene for a successful working partnership moving forwards.”

Councillor Simon Jones, Cabinet member for highways, added:

“We have been working closely with Ringway to iron out these initial problems and we’re pleased to see that things are improving, despite experiencing exceptionally wet weather since the contract began.”

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

In the first six months of this contract there has been:

  • 643 tonnes of litter picked swept up.
  • 220km road surface dressed (4.5 per cent of the network).
  • 1,250 tonnes of tarmac used for pot holes and minor repairs.
  • 550 emergencies attended (all within the 1.5 hour response time). These include flooding, severe weather and road traffic.
  • 2.5 million meter squared of grass cut at least once (some weekly).
  • Around 5,000 orders per month generated and supplied to Ringway from the council across Shropshire (seven days a week, 24 hours a day).
  • Officers in all divisional areas providing an emergency call out service every day of the year.

The meeting is open to the public and will take place at the council’s Park Hall depot in Whittington from 4pm, allowing for an opportunity to meet some of the contractors and Ringway managers, before the report is discussed at 5pm.