The updated business case for the project contains commercially sensitive information and, as its disclosure could have a bearing on the forthcoming tender exercise, the information is summarised in an exempt appendix at agenda item 29.

The Director of Technical Services sought approval to proceed with the proposed Invitation to Tender for the Parks and Countryside Services Procurement Exercise (PACSPE) based on the Select List of Tenderers referred to in his report. He provided Members with an updated business case for the project, a proposed Benefits Management Strategy for the new contract and sought endorsement in relation to a number of key contract issues. The Director provided an outline of the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) ‘Gateway’ review process, which was intended to provide external validation of the process, to give confidence in the recommendation to proceed with the Invitation to Tender. The most recent Gateway 2 Procurement Strategy Review had been undertaken on 14/15 March 2011 and the Director was pleased to report that the categorisation from the external professional assessor was a Green rating.

The Director reported that the updated business case for the project contained commercially sensitive information and the disclosure of such information could have a bearing on the forthcoming tender exercise. As such, the information had been classed as Exempt Information under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 by the Council’s Director of Law, HR and Asset Management. For this reason the updated business case was summarised in an exempt appendix to the report. (see minute 366 post).

Resolved –

(1)  That the report be noted and the updated business case for the project, described in section 5.0, be endorsed.

(2)  That the proposed Outline Benefits Management Strategy for the new contract outlined in section 6.0, be approved.

(3)  That the recommendation to proceed with the Invitation to Tender, based on the Select List of Tenderers referred to in section 7.0, be approved.

(4)  That the proposed way forward in relation to a number of key contract issues described in section 8.0, be endorsed.

(5)  That the proposed extension of existing highway related contracts as described in section 9.0, be approved.

(6)  That the proposed short list of selected tenderers be noted.