Contact: Kevin Ings, ext 6986 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

(i) That small grants continue to be offered to support the work of organisations operating voluntary car schemes.

(ii) That single tender negotiations take place with the operators identified in paragraph 7.3 of the report currently receiving medium sized grants and that new four-year contracts be awarded from 1 April 2008.

(iii) That the criteria in paragraph 8.4 of the report for awarding single tender contracts to area-wide community transport schemes be approved.

(iv) That single tender negotiations using the above criteria take place with the Councils for Voluntary Services, identified in paragraph 8.6 of the report, which operate area-wide community transport schemes and that new two-year contracts be awarded from 1 April 2008.

(v) That a decision on the tendering process for the support of an area-wide community transport scheme in Basingstoke be deferred pending further consideration of the options available.

(vi) That support for new mini-buses will continue through `one-off' grants which will be assessed against criteria, with recommendations being made to the Executive Member for Environment for grant awards.

(vii) That single tender negotiations take place with the current operators of the Dial-A-Ride and Call and Go services identified in paragraph 10.4 of the report and that temporary contracts be awarded for the period 1 April 2008 to 30 September 2008.

(viii) That the Dial-A-Ride and Call and Go services identified in paragraph 10.4 of the report be competitively tendered and that new four-year contracts be awarded from 1 October 2008.

(ix) That the proposal for consulting with existing users of Dial-A-Ride and Call and Go services be agreed.

(x) That the proposal to competitively tender for the development and operation of a county-wide Wheels to Work scheme be approved, with a view to initially awarding a two-year contract as soon as is practically possible, subject to funding being identified.

2. Reason

2.1 Maintaining and developing services provided by community transport schemes in Hampshire contributes towards maximising well-being. This decision will ensure that the County Council can continue to do this in the future, whilst at the same time meeting the necessary requirements of procurement legislation and the Council's Standing Orders.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 The use of grants, partnership agreements, contracts using single tender criteria and competitively tendered contracts have all been considered against the background of the current procurement regulations and the County Council's Standing Orders. The general conclusion was that in future most community transport services would need to be procured through contracts.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or Other Executive Member Consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - None.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - None.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor M J Kendal

Executive Member for Environment

1462Decn/KI