Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Transport Management

Forward Plan Ref: 2025/069

Contact: Sasha Redhead, Project Manager

Sasha.redhead@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Director of Economy and Place (CA14)

FollowingCabinet approvalin February 2025to procure enhanced multi contactor contracts for the civil enforcement and ZEZ operation, Civil Enforcement specialists (Parking Matters) were appointed alongside legal specialists (Ashford’s) to work with officers to develop new specifications, pricing schedules and contract terms

The Cabinetis RECOMMENDED to:

a)  Endorsethe approachand proposalssurrounding thecivil enforcement at Oxfordshire County Council (the Council) contracts as set out in this paper.

b)  Authorisethe Director of Financial and Commercial Servicestoprepare andcommence theprocurement of:

1.    A new 5-yearCivil Enforcement Service contract (Contract 1) to commence on 1 May 2026 (following a mobilisation period) with options for two 1-year extensions (7-year potential contract length).

2.    A new 5-year Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) Software and Technology contract (Contract 2) to commence on 1 May 2026 (following a mobilisation period) with options for two 1-year extensions (7-year potential contract length).

3.    A new Zero Emissions Zone (ZEZ) Checker contract (Contract 3) to commence on 1 April 2026 (following a mobilisation period) plus a maintenance period of 2 years.

4.    A new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Camera’s contract (Contract 4) for supply, maintenance and hosting of new cameras, to start as soon as possible, via further competition on the CCS framework for 4 years (longest length the framework will allow).

c)   Delegatethe decisionto theaward thecontracts, andany potentialfuture contract extensions, to the Director of Environment andHighways in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport Management.

d)  Endorse the Director of Financial and Commercial Servicesto explore collaboration with neighbouring authorities to enable Contracts 1 and 2 to be utilised by up to two other large authorities that the Council are currently considering procuring on behalf of. Once the exploration is complete, delegate the decision on the way forward to the Director of Environment and Highways in consultation with Cabinet Member for Transport Management, and the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation.

Recommendations approved (9 voting in favour and 1 against).

Cabinet received a report on proposed models for Civil Enforcement contracts. FollowingCabinet approvalin February 2025to procure enhanced multi contactor contracts for the civil enforcement and ZEZ operation, Civil Enforcement specialists were appointed alongside legal specialists to work with officers to develop new specifications, pricing schedules and contract terms.

After market engagement and discussion with other Local Authorities, the requirements had been packaged to compete via the most appropriate routes to market, and these were set out in the report.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management, presented the report. He referred to the objectives to improve enforcement against illegal and dangerous parking county-wide and commented on the key points included in the report which included

·       Introducing more rigorous KPIs with penalty clauses in the new contracts.

·       Addressing recruitment and flexibility challenges, and collaborating with neighbouring authorities where possible.

During discussion members raised concerns over the adequacy of fines, national policy limitations, and the merits of in-house versus outsourced service provision.

Councillor Gant moved and Councillor Roberts seconded the recommendations and they were approved.

RESOLVED, 9 voting in favour and 1 against, to:-

a)  endorsethe approachand proposalssurrounding thecivil enforcement at Oxfordshire County Council (the Council) contracts as set out in this paper.

b)  authorisethe Director of Financial and Commercial Servicesto prepareand commencethe procurement of:

1.    A new 5-yearCivil Enforcement Service contract (Contract 1) to commence on 1 May 2026 (following a mobilisation period) with options for two 1-year extensions (7-year potential contract length).

2.    A new 5-year Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) Software and Technology contract (Contract 2) to commence on 1 May 2026 (following a mobilisation period) with options for two 1-year extensions (7-year potential contract length).

3.    A new Zero Emissions Zone (ZEZ) Checker contract (Contract 3) to commence on 1 April 2026 (following a mobilisation period) plus a maintenance period of 2 years.

4.    A new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Camera’s contract (Contract 4) for supply, maintenance and hosting of new cameras, to start as soon as possible, via further competition on the CCS framework for 4 years (longest length the framework will allow).

c)   delegatethe decisionto theaward thecontracts, andany potentialfuture contract extensions, to the Director of Environment andHighways in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport Management.

d)  endorse the Director of Financial and Commercial Servicesto explore collaboration with neighbouring authorities to enable Contracts 1 and 2 to be utilised by up to two other large authorities that the Council are currently considering procuring on behalf of. Once the exploration is complete, delegate the decision on the way forward to the Director of Environment and Highways in consultation with Cabinet Member for Transport Management, and the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation.

Recommendations approved (9 voting in favour and 1 against).