Issue - meetings

Cllr Albon presented the report outlining that the contract was for maintenance of all the Council’s infrastructure including: upper promenades, railings, steps, bridges, groynes, slipways and cliff facing walls. Without maintenance the Council would be unable to react to urgent work or routine repair work to ensure that it got the maximum working life out of its coastal infrastructure and the Council would be open to an increased insurance liability as a result of unresolved defects on the coastline.

Cllr Rogers spoke under council procedure rule 20.1.

It was proposed by Cllr Albon and seconded by Cllr Keen that Cabinet  approves expenditure via a coastal zone maintenance term contract of approximately £1.5m over a 5 year period starting early in 2024.

Members AGREED

Mike Humber introduced the report making the following key points: 

• The council had 16 miles of coastline around the district that was maintained by  the technical services team. 

• This was maintained through a maintenance contract, which was due to expire in  January 2024. 

• It was proposed to put in a three year contract, with a two year extension option. 

• This was base budget funded revenue maintenance work, informed by regular  detailed inspections of the coastline by the technical team. 

• Without this contract the council would be unable to react to urgent routine and  repair works and be open to an increased level of insurance liability. 

• The budget value each year for the contract was £244,000. 

Members commented and asked the following questions: 

• Was there a review process for the current contractors? 

• Was the contract open tendered? 

Mike Humber responded: 

• The technical services team carried out inspections and observations on site.  There was an inspection before works had been paid for. 

• The contract was competitively tendered, and was considered open tendered. 

Members noted the report.