Since 2013, most of the maintenance of the "public realm" - roads, paths, etc - has been delivered for Herefordshire Council by Balfour Beatty. One of the early decisions in 2024 by the Conservative administration (made when I was part of the cabinet team), was to review the arrangement, culminating in a retendering process to find a new supplier/partner for the works that need undertaking. This in turn followed a review in 2021 undertaken by Price Waterhouse Coopers and by Grant Thornton UK LLP, the council’s external auditors, which identified concerns in respect of performance, contract management, compliance and value for money. For my part, as well as value for money, I was particularly concerned that we ensure better clarity and communications with residents and councillors, and greater accountability, including changing the arrangement by which the work undertaken was chosen and then inspected by Balfour Beatty employees - effectively "marking your own homework".
The decision was made in 2024, at which point Balfour Beatty were given two years notice, with the contract ending in May next year. The procurement of new services is taking place through 2025, with the contract to be awarded in December.
While this process is going on, there have been a number of changes made to how we operate to try and deliver those improvements. The increased funding of the parish councils, in particular the lengthsman scheme and the PROW (public rights of way) and drainage funds, allows them to use local suppliers, for smaller jobs, at hugely reduced cost. The "locality steward" function, currently undertaken by BBLP as a community liaison role, is expected to be undertaken by Herefordshire council employees (although it is likely it will be the same people, so we don't lose their knowledge) thus avoiding the "marking your own homework" problem. And although technical, there have been a number of changes to how works are contracted - the "frameworks" - so that we have been able to use lower cost suppliers, such as Tarmac.
It's worth noting that Balfour Beatty have made it clear they want to be a "good leaver"; and despite huge pressures around funding are still working very professionally through to the end of the contract; I am grateful for all of their efforts during this phase.