APPENDIX 1

DETAILS COMMUNICATED TO DISTRICT COUNCILS IN JULY 2006

AS AMENDED IN JANUARY 2007 (EXTRACT FROM LETTER)

Note 1 - Taking Over the Weed Treatment Service

· This relates to the urban treatment of hard highway surfaces only (roads, footways, channels, kerb-lines, etc). It does not include verges or rural areas.

· Our standard across Hampshire is two treatments per year, plus extra spot treatment in places as required, to the value of 0.2 of a treatment (ie the monetary equivalent of 2.2 treatments in total).

· We specify that weed treatment on the highway has to be carried out with non-residual weed-killers.

Note 2 - Funding

· The method of funding we are considering is an annual allocation based on your estimate of the cost you would incur to carry out the service to our standard.

· You will appreciate that it would not be worthwhile changing the arrangements unless either a cost saving or improved level of service (preferably both) could be shown. There may be certain costs to us in making the change. Therefore our offer would depend on your cost estimate being the same or cheaper than the cost to us under our current arrangements.

· In order to generate the required Gershon savings by providing a more cost effective service, we would expect district councils to be able to cover both the works and management fees from the same amount as we currently pay in works costs. If district councils are able to do the work for less than that amount, then that would be better still.

· The funding allocation would be calculated on a rate per kilometre based on the length of the network covered in order to allow for future changes to treated lengths.

· Similar to the existing practice for grass cutting, districts would be able to enhance the County Council standard at their own cost, should they wish.

· We would expect the work to be market tested by means of competitive tender or other similar method at periodic intervals.

· Details of the quantities involved and the cost under our current arrangements are enclosed below.

Note 3 - Start Date for the Service

· We would expect the service to cover a complete weed treatment season and therefore to start on 1 April 2007.

· If a district council is interested but not able to start on 1 April 2007 and wished to start later, then 1 April 2008 may be acceptable.

Note 4 - Performance Indicators

· Our performance indicator is a joint client/contractor random audit to check the effectiveness of the treatment, timed to take place two weeks after the treatment takes place.

· We propose using the same performance indicator if districts take over the service. This may also mean involving a County Council representative in the on-site audits.

· District councils may also use whatever additional performance indicators they wish.