‘Hit Squad’ team’s contract agreed after ‘oversight’
ACONTRACT extension has been agreed for a maintenance “Hit Squad”, tackling fly-tipping and carrying out repairs in East Renfrewshire.
Councillors have approved a proposal which will see VERG, a third-party contractor, continue its work until the end of March, after an initial deal expired in November 2019.
An “oversight” by council staff meant the deadline was missed and re-tendering delayed.
That process began in March but was halted by Covid-19 – and the contractor has continued operating on a monthly basis, with the same terms as the old contract.
VERG (Vocational Education Resource Group), a training and employability service, has been managing a scheme in mixed tenure properties – with council houses and private homes – for the council since December 2015.
It carries out close cleaning and painting, garden maintenance and minor repairs.
The council’s cabinet has agreed the current scheme should continue until the end of March, with re-tendering under way. A new contract will be awarded from April.
Continuing the work between December 2019 and March will cost £375,000.
Council leader Tony Buchanan said: “I think it’s unfortunate the tender was missed at the appropriate time. It is good to know we’ve
got a process on that.
“That said, I think the housing tenure scheme has been a great success.
“We know the benefits, we all see the benefits, some of us on a daily basis around our estates.
“It makes a difference to the lives of the people there. It also makes a difference to the lives of those involved in the team. The work that is carried out is carried out by local people.”
He added: “It is carried out by some of our previously care experienced children, so the opportunities it has created have been significant and substantial. in place to pick up
“That adds to the success the team in many respects.”
During the pandemic, the team has helped the council deliver food parcels for vulnerable residents, provided bank holiday cover for the environment department, sanitised handrails and door handles at Montgomery Court sheltered housing complex and removed increased fly-tipping.
An online contracts register is being developed, which will create a “single source of accurate information”, following the oversight.
It will include alerts when contracts are coming to an end to give council staff time to begin re-tendering. of