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Four local housing associations have joined together to save over £800,000 on landscape maintenance and cleaning services passing these savings onto tenants.
Liverpool Housing Trust (LHT), part of the Vicinity Group, has been working with Riverside, Plus Dane and Maritime Housing to jointly procure landscape maintenance and cleaning services for 5000 households across Runcorn.
Originally there were 15 separate contracts, all operating to different standards which has now been reduced to four. By procuring the work jointly the partners will save over £800,000 over a two and a half year period. These savings will be passed on to tenants through a reduced service charge.
The joint procurement partnership was designed to achieve a high
standard of specification, economies of scale and opportunities for
local training and employment. Local tenants were involved from the
beginning of the process; first endorsing the approach and then
being involved at every stage including agreeing the specification,
short listing, interviewing and appointing the contractors. Tenant
inspectors have been appointed to monitor quality and support the
process when the contracts are let.
It was agreed that the optimum package providing the overall best
value was:
- Vale Contract Services has been awarded Castlefields and Palacefields
- Connaught has been awarded Windmill Hill and Murdishaw
The successful companies were chosen not only for price but also on the quality of service. The arrangements are based on a five year contract starting this year but let for an initial two and a half year period, with an option to extend to a full five year term.
Dave Garster, LHT environmental services manager says: “Joining together to buy services is the ideal way to get value for money and being able to pass these savings onto tenants in this current economic climate is a great result.”
Clare Nelson, local LHT tenant board member who was involved in the procurement process says: “I feel proud to have been involved in such an innovative and exciting project -through this all tenants will benefit from a better service.”
