Decision details

Summary of Decision

That the contract with Continental Landscapes Ltd. for the provision for grounds maintenance for parks & open spaces and the management and maintenance of cemeteries is extended for an initial period of 12 months from the current expiry date of 31^st March 2015 and retaining the option to extend by up to a further 12 months (to 31^st March 2017) as allowed for within the terms of the current contract be approved.

Reason for the Decision

Key considerations in arriving at this recommendation are that:

·           There are no tri-borough opportunities for this contract.  LBHF and RBKC have separate but aligned long-term contracts with the same supplier (Quadron Services Ltd.) until April 2021.

·           The level of funding available to continue maintaining parks and cemeteries will be considered as part of the Medium Term Planning process. It is expected that the council will be better able to define its future requirements for parks and cemeteries in approximately 12 months time.

·           Continental has a strong track record of working positively with the council to reduce contract expenditure.

·           The unit costs of the Continental contract benchmark positively against the two other tri-borough contracts.

·           The quality of service delivered by Continental is very good. Westminster is the current holder of the prestigious London in Bloom “council of the year” award and recorded the highest public satisfaction rating of any Westminster council service in the most recent City Survey (92%). This rating also compares well with parks satisfaction ratings in LBHF (80%) and RBKC (78%).

Peter Large

Head of Legal and Democratic Services

Westminster City Hall

64 Victoria Street

LONDON SW1E 6QP

Publication Date: 11 September 2014

Implementation Date: 18 September 2014 at 5pm

Decision Ref: No CMf/SLOP/8/2014-2015