Councillors will be asked to approve the nine-year contract signed with private firm Amey in July 2013 be terminated, with the company’s agreement, at the end of January 2018. Tony McDonough reports
Maintenance of Liverpool’s highways and street lights is to be taken back under the direct control of the city council.
At the next city cabinet meeting councillors will be asked to approve the nine-year contract signed with private firm Amey in July 2013 be terminated, with the company’s agreement, at the end of January 2018.
The council says that while the deal had delivered some cost savings it was felt even more could be achieved by bringing the work back in-house.
It comes as part of a council wide review which has brought parks services, street cleansing, bin collections, IT and HR and payroll services all back in-house to deliver further savings.
Liverpool Council claims that, due to Government austerity measures, it needs to deliver £90m of savings over the next three years.
Following the negotiated exit from the Amey contract, it is also proposed that an interim service be put in place for an 18-month period to allow the council to carry out a detailed review of the various options for future service delivery.
Services that come under the deal include highway maintenance, inspections and enforcement, street lighting maintenance, winter maintenance, gully/highway drainage maintenance and alley gate maintenance.
The move will result in eligible staff either transferring back to the council or Liverpool Street Scene. The detail of those with TUPE rights will be confirmed 28 days prior to transfer/exit.
Councillor Ann O’Byrne, Deputy Mayor of Liverpool, said: “The stark reality of these punitive government cuts is forcing the council to look at every single penny we spend to ensure not just value for money but to help protect the vulnerable as much as we possibly can.
“The highways contract with Amey LG did initially deliver savings but we believe more can be achieved by bringing the operations back in house.