Issue - meetings

To provide information to Members on the results of the grounds maintenance options appraisal undertaken, and to consider a recommendation to Cabinet from the Joint Meeting of Environment, and Rural and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

The Joint Meeting will take place on 6 February 2023, after the publication of this agenda so the results of that meeting will be reported to Cabinet at their meeting on 7 February 2023.

Note:  Councillor Adam Stokes left the Council Chamber for the duration of this item as he was a Director of EnvironmentSK Ltd.

Purpose of report

To provide information to Members on the results of the grounds maintenance options appraisal undertaken, and in consideration of the results consider recommendations from the Joint Meeting of the Environment and Rural and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    Approves the insourcing of the Council’s grounds maintenance service back to South Kesteven District Council as soon as possible.

2.    Is mindful that the replacement of handheld kit for Grounds Maintenance should be electric, green and does not use fossil fuels.

3.    Approves that the insourcing takes place as soon as possible in 2023/2024 following a TUPE consultation.

4.    Approves the proposed changes to the grounds maintenance specification (as detailed in Appendix Two, Amended Grounds Maintenance Specification and Associated Savings) are adopted from 1 April 2023.

5.    Approves the integration of an insourced grounds maintenance service with Street Scene and the Big Clean Team, such integration taking place as soon as possible during financial year 2023/2024.

6.    Approves the dissolution of the Council’s wholly owned companies EnvironmentSK Ltd. and EnvironmentSK Commercial Services Ltd. at the earliest opportunity.

Alternative options considered and rejected

A full explanation of the options considered was provided within the committee report.

Reason for decisions

Three options had previously been agreed to form the basis of an options appraisal, these being:

·       To retain the services of EnvironmentSK

·       To secure an external provider under a contract arrangement

·       To insource the grounds maintenance service, to include integration with wider Council services

Insourcing the grounds maintenance service would provide the Council with full operational control over how the service was delivered. The service could be increased or reduced in line with service requirements, whilst taking account of seasonal fluctuations, without incurring any contractual penalties or additional costs.

The timeline for the service to be insourced would need to be identified in line with the Council’s obligations relating to the transfer of employees under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) regulations. In addition to the necessary TUPE consultation with the current employees of EnvironmentSK Ltd. an integration of the insourced service and Street Scene would also require consultation with the existing Council employees. In line with Council procedures, affected employees would be fully consulted on the proposed changes to their employment with support from the Council’s HR team.

TUPE Regulations provide that transferring employees transfer to a new employer on their existing terms and conditions, their length of service also being protected. However, receiving employers can propose to make changes to the employees’ terms and conditions if these represent an improvement, and if the employees are fully consulted and agree to the proposed changes.

Options were being explored to introduce charging for HRA assisted gardens and communal area maintenance. Any changes proposed to the service would require full consultation with the Council’s tenants.

The savings identified from insourcing the grounds  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86