Parking Services Improvements 2012/13 PDF 75 KB - Gravesham ...

2.2 Pay and Display Machines
2.2.1 The existing pay and display parking machines are eight years old and are
clearly in need of replacement.
2.2.2 A review of the frequency of parking machine breakdowns in addition to a
significant increase in break-ins and thefts from the machines over recent
months reinforced the need for the machines to be replaced. The number
of break-ins being experienced was also having an adverse impact on the
service provided to the customer as some parking machines remained out
of action for a period of time whilst waiting for spare parts to repair the
machines to be delivered and fitted. It was also considered that the
introduction of new more secure car parking machines would reduce the
current high levels of machine repair costs.
2.2.3 To maximise the advantage gained through the procurement process for
acquiring the new car parking machines, a mini-competition exercise was
held between five of the main providers of pay and display machines pretendered
under the Eastern Shires Procurement Organisation (ESPO)
framework. The tender process took into account key factors including the
lifetime cost to install and maintain the machines, the quality of the security
aspects of the machines, the quality of the management reports produced
and the timescale within which the contract could be delivered.
2.2.4 The tender exercise was completed on 17 August 2012 and following an
evaluation process the council awarded the contract to Parkeon. The
application of a mini-competition process to the suppliers on the pretendered
procurement framework added a further competitive edge to this
contract to help ensure that the council has achieved value for money in
terms of both the cost and quality of the new machines.
2.2.5 Through the procurement process we have worked with the Police to
ensure that security and crime prevention issues associated with the
replacement of the parking machines are properly and effectively taken
into account.
2.2.6 Following the award of the contract it is anticipated that all 42 machines
will be installed in the car parks and the on-street locations by the end of
October 2012.
2.2.7 The cost of the new machines, at around £110,000, can be
accommodated from within existing budgets, due to the new contract being
significantly cheaper than previous procurement exercises for such
equipment. As half of the pay and display machines will be provided for
the on-street parking function, the costs associated with these machines
(£55,000 of the total) will be charged against the Council’s
Decriminalisation Account, utilising accumulated surpluses and in-year
budget savings as a mechanism for financing the expense. The remaining
£55,000 for the pay and display machines to be located in the Council’s
vehicle parks will be funded primarily by savings made on the annual
provision for maintenance of the existing pay and display machines, which
currently totals around £60,000 per annum and other savings made within
the car parks budget.
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