The contract started this month with the grounds maintenance service to Mendip’s green estate and facilities management services. In July street cleaning will be added to the contract and services will work from one central helpdesk.
"Landscape Group’s solution, chosen by Mendip as their preferred option, has two main advantages," said the contractor. "Joint services will be delivered by neighbourhood teams taking responsibility for both the horticulture and the cleanliness in their neighbourhood.
"Secondly, the whole contract is governed by an open and transparent change mechanism with pre-determined costs. This means future changes in budgets can be easily planned and agreed."
Landscape Group director Sarah Hughes-Clarke said: "We enjoyed the competitive dialogue process because it allowed us to discuss openly with Mendip officers what kind of solutions would be best suited for their residents.
"We can suggest new ideas and see what suits Mendip best. It is more creative than traditional tendering and has meant, for example, we can implement our partnership with Groundwork, who will offer training opportunities to long-term unemployed."
Councillor and open spaces’ chief John Parham said: "Combining such important services into one contract reflects Mendip District Council’s approach to streamlining its service delivery, providing local residents with the best possible service at all times.
"We view this contract as one of a new generation of public sector contracts, delivering flexibility to adapt to the rapidly changing public sector landscape, while ensuring the customer remains at the centre of everything we do."
