a)    Cabinet Member agrees to the establishment of a Highways and Public Realm Schemes Framework, estimated to commence in April 2026 for a period of 4 years as set out in this report and as per the Lot structure listed in Appendix 2. The overall contract value of the framework across all Lots is estimated to be £100 million excluding VAT. This is in order to support the mixed economy for the delivery of highway and public realm schemes and relating to a new approach to the Public Realm Services contract;

b)    Cabinet Member delegates authority to the Major Contracts Programme Director to carry out the procurement and award of the Highways and Public Realm Schemes Framework, as set out in recommendation (a), to successful bidders that meet the criteria.

c)    Cabinet Member delegates authority to the Major Contracts Programme Director to take all necessary operational decisions to deliver recommendations (a) and (b) above.

1.              To reject this strategy and to not procure a new Highways and Public Realm Schemes framework. This is not recommended as to rely on one-off and spot tenders could jeopardise the timely delivery of works associated with the Council’s Capital Programme and the delivery of the highway maintenance capital funding received from the Department for Transport on an annual basis. Rejecting this strategy would also go against the Councils mixed economy for the delivery of highways and public realm schemes as part of the approach to the New Public Realm Services contract.