Contact: Phil Samms, tel 01962 874795 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That approval be given to tender a framework contract to facilitate the supply of temporary technical professional staff for delivery of maintenance and improvement scheme design, project management and implementation of works to highways, related structures and other construction related projects within Hampshire.

2. Reason

2.1 Whilst the Environment Department currently carries out its duties to maintain and improve the highway infrastructure, recruitment difficulties within the civil engineering industry have led to a number of vacancies in the permanent workforce over a considerable time.

2.2 Current arrangements for the supply of temporary technical staff have used the corporate temporary staff contract. Problems in the supply of suitable resources have occurred with this arrangement over the past four years. A new contract, to replace this arrangement in July 2008, is uncertain to alleviate concerns, and it has therefore been agreed with the Corporate Procurement Network that a new specialist contract should be implemented to supplement this contract, ensuring continued supply of suitable resources for the Department. This already happens in other specialist areas, ie IT and Property, Business and Regulatory Services.

2.3 In order to offer flexibility in the supply of suitable technical resources to the Department, it is intended to tender a framework contract for a number of specialist suppliers of technical professional resources.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 The Environment Department could employ the new corporate temporary staff contract, due to commence in July 2008, for all temporary resources. It is suggested that this contract is quite suitable for the provision of non-technical professional temporary staff. It is unclear, however, whether the new corporate contract will provide adequate facilities for the provision of technical staff, and it is therefore suggested that its use be monitored and supplemented by the framework. The Corporate Procurement Network Group is aware of current difficulties with technical staff, and support the Environment Department's approach to establish a specialist supporting framework contract.

3.2 The Environment Department could actively seek to recruit technical staff to permanent posts. This process is ongoing, and will continue to be so, however market pressures within the construction industry at present have proven difficult for successful recruitment. The Olympics in 2012 is widely known to be attracting large numbers of staff, and this pressure is only likely to increase on the run-up to the event. In addition, it is known that private consultants are also struggling to recruit suitable staff as the Middle East, China and India are seeking large volumes of technical resource.

3.3 The Environment Department has a Professional Services Contract with Mott Gifford for the delivery of transportation and engineering design, aimed at supplementing the abilities of the in-house Engineering Consultancy. This contract is not, however, established in order to provide individual resources to supplement existing permanent staff or cover vacancies. As such, it is not a suitable alternative to a framework for temporary staff.

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

1582Decn/PS