Stockport/Trafford form road improvement alliance

Stockport and Trafford Councils have launched a strategic alliance known as "Streetscene Services" to maintain and improve roads within the boroughs.

The alliance was launched on Tuesday this week, as part of Stockport's Boost campaign, and the partnership aims to streamline services as well as offer further value for money for its residents.

With a value of up to £100m, both councils hope that the alliance will expand and be used by other public sector organisations across the North West to further reduce costs to taxpayers and provide long term continuity to highway service improvements.

To achieve the aims, ten contractors have been chosen by the councils to undertake highway works. Nearly all the selected contractors are businesses based in Greater Manchester, which are specifically seeking to recruit and train locally.

The ten contractors appointed are:

• Acorn Lighting Services
• Bethell Construction
• Colas
• J Cooney
• DCT Civil Engineering
• George Cox & Sons
• Morrison Highway Maintenance
• Solutions SK
• Tarmac National Contracting
• Trafford Council Operations

Dave Goddard, leader of Stockport Council, said: "I believe that by partnering with Trafford we can provide an excellent way of demonstrating and achieving efficiencies whilst continuing to deliver the service the public demands and I would welcome more partners to come and join this Streetscene Alliance.

"The partnership combines the best skills of the public and private sector to drive efficiency and effectiveness and as part of the Stockport Boost campaign we are able to create added value to our communities by encouraging the use of local suppliers and creating local employment opportunities.

"This partnership has also helped us demonstrate good value in the bidding process and is paramount to the successful delivery of schemes in Stockport."

Matt Colledge, leader of Trafford Council, added: "I believe the Streetscene Alliance is at the cutting edge of improving local services for both Trafford and Stockport.

"In working jointly with Stockport we are able to deliver projects more efficiently whilst supporting local business in carrying out improvement works that will benefit residents and deliver even better value for Trafford residents

"We understand the needs of the local community and by joining this alliance we are able to employ the best resource locally and improve employment and apprenticeship opportunities within the borough."

The contracts will run for minimum five year period and include works such as structural improvements to roads and repairing street lighting within the area.

The works were tendered in accordance with European procurement regulations and were open for local, national and international companies to apply. Applicants followed a strict submission process and had to provide details on aspects such as quality control and financial security.