Staffordshire County Council hopes a new partnership with Amey will improve the quality of its highways services and deliver savings.
Amey, which is the preferred delivery partner, has pledged to deliver £21.5 million cost benefits over the next five years if it is approved to deliver the highways programme on behalf of the local authority.
Mark Winnington, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for economy and infrastructure, said Amey’s vision, expertise and experience offered both a good deal and significant value for money.
He said: “This deal is a once in a generation opportunity to improve the quality, speed and breadth of our highways programme – at a reduced cost of £21.5 million to taxpayers in the next five years.
“Rather than a take a traditional procurement approach, we asked the leading players in the industry what they could bring to the table which would deliver better value, better quality and better customer service.
“Amey was consistently strong across the board and offered an impressive commitment to deliver these significant cost reductions through their own efficiencies, hand in hand with smarter ways of working to keep people better informed on everything from potholes to major projects.
“By keeping a 60% voting control in the partnership will also be able to ensure communities are listened to every step of the way.
“I am confident that this partnership will not only protect the improvements we have already made to our highways, but will support the county council’s ambitions to bring more jobs, growth and investment to Staffordshire.”
A report to cabinet today (Wednesday 19 February) will recommend Amey is chosen as the preferred delivery partner to maintain the council’s 6,000km of highways, delivering major flagship schemes and help in the running of the county’s street lighting, rights of way work and country park maintenance.
If approved, Amey’s contract will run from 2014, for 10 years and could be valued up to £80m per year. The final value however is dependent on the final scope of the partnership.
There is provision to extend for a further 10 years subject to meeting performance criteria. Staffordshire County Council will retain 60% voting control in the partnership. Amey acquired Enterprise, the council’s current provider for maintenance, in April 2013.
