Urban Vision partnership to end in 2020

Salford City Council is to bring planning and building control services, property, and highways and infrastructure back in-house once the current contract with Urban Vision, its partnership with Capita and Galliford Try, ends in January 2020.

City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “When we entered into a partnership contract between Urban Vision and the council we couldn’t foresee the future boom in the growth of the city.

“I would like to personally thank everyone involved in making the partnership a huge success, providing quality services and vital stability. The partnership provided sustained work for people in leaner times as the partnership developed a range of commercial projects.

“Times have now changed and we need a new model to fuel inclusive growth and reap benefits for local people and communities.”

Urban Vision was established in 2005 as a 12-year partnership intended to “enhance, grow and modernise” key council services. It was extended for a further three-year term in 2017 and now turns over around £40m a year, delivering services such as pre-application planning, design and project management. The JV said that it has taken on work for more than 230 clients across different local authority areas.

Dennett continued: “Bringing the work in-house will maximise social value for the city, generating employment and training opportunities and benefiting local businesses through their supply chain activity.

“We would like to reassure businesses and residents that work will continue on all programmes managed by Urban Vision and we have started work for a seamless transition back to the council. There will be new opportunities for Urban Vision employees and we will ensure that individuals are provided time and support to have early discussions about their personal circumstances.”

Barry Pilkington, partnership director, Urban Vision, said: “The benefits delivered to Salford are a testament to the partnership. Urban Vision’s impact is now felt across the region, helping make Salford a better place to live, work, visit and invest.

“We are committed to continued engagement and delivery against our existing and planned services and programmes to both Salford City Council and our other customers, and look forward to working alongside the council with future strategic models in mind beyond 2020.”

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The Urban Vision model was a disgrace, riddled with conflicts of interest and opportunities for underhand profit-taking from the public purse. Regularly, consultants would be invited to bid for projects on behlaf of the Council and would put massive amounts of (costly) time and effort into doing so. Repeatedly, the Urban Vision employees making the decisions on these projects would (surprise suprise) select an Urban Vision team to do the work. There was no scrutiny and no accountability. This kind of arrangement should’ve been banned many many years ago.

By Anonymous

Good riddance

By Alan

Very wise decision!

By Value adder

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