Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Transport Management

Forward Plan Ref: 2024/249

Contact: Dave Harrison, Public Transport Team Leader (Dave.Harrison@oxfordshire.gov.uk)

Report by Director of Environment and Highways (CMDTMT14).

The information in this case is exempt in that it falls within the following prescribed categories:

3. Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

and since it is considered that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The annex containing exempt information under the above paragraph is attached.

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)           Approve a procurement process to secure new and continued bus service provision following the expiry of 17 existing contracts, 3 of which require a Key Decision;

(b)           Approve use of surplus ENCTS and LABSG for new contracts as detailed in Exempt Annex A;

(c)           Approve the business case for the spend set out in this Report and to delegate authority to the Director of Environment & Highways in consultation with the Head of Legal & Deputy Monitoring Officer and the Head of Procurement & Contract Management to:

Commence procurement processes to secure the services outlined below;

Carry out the selection of the winning tenderers in accordance with the selection criteria set out in any procurement documentation and within the budget envelope for the respective services, and award the contracts to those providers;

Negotiate and conclude the terms of any contractual arrangements required to deliver the services including entering into all necessary legal documentation; and

Take any further steps necessary to ensure that continuity of services can be achieved should any further commercial routes be withdrawn or reduced.

The Chair introduced the item to the meeting.

The Chair noted the exempt information in the annex, confirmed he was happy with the contents and noted that he did not feel the need to go into private session to discuss it.

The Chair paid tribute to the close collaboration between officers and the bus companies to deliver high quality bus services.

The Chair noted that this was a good example of partnership working.

The Chair thanked officers for their work and agreed to the recommendations.

RESOLVED to:

(a)  Approve a procurement process to secure new and continued bus service provision following the expiry of 17 existing contracts, 3 of which require a Key Decision;

(b)  Approve use of surplus ENCTS and LABSG for new contracts as detailed in Exempt Annex A;

(c)  Approve the business case for the spend set out in this Report and to delegate authority to the Director of Environment & Highways in consultation with the Head of Legal & Deputy Monitoring Officer and the Head of Procurement & Contract Management to:

Commence procurement processes to secure the services outlined below;

Carry out the selection of the winning tenderers in accordance with the selection criteria set out in any procurement documentation and within the budget envelope for the respective services, and award the contracts to those providers;

Negotiate and conclude the terms of any contractual arrangements required to deliver the services including entering into all necessary legal documentation; and

Take any further steps necessary to ensure that continuity of services can be achieved should any further commercial routes be withdrawn or reduced.