Countryside Access (Pendle Borough Council)

Tender description

Pendle Council has an extensive network of public rights of way, many of which the Council has maintained since the authority was created in 1974. The rights of way are generally across privately owned land. The majority cross farmland used for keeping livestock or horses. Much of the maintenance work relates to the replacement of the stiles and gates which members of the public use where a footpath or bridleway crosses from one field to the next. Some of the sites are in remote locations where access can be difficult. The authority previously employed a full-time ranger who was employed to liaise with the landowners concerned and carry out the necessary repairs. The ranger took voluntary redundancy in 2015 and the Council now carries out the work of this nature through contractors. Through this process we are seeking to appoint a number of suitable contractors to our Approved List and at the same time obtain a schedule of prices for a range of standardised work activities, fixed for a minimum 12 month agreement. The Council may then employ the services of one or more appointed contractors to carry out works during the course of any agreement. The prices quoted will be the main factor in choosing which job should be done by which contractor, but other factors may also be taken into account such as the skills and equipment of each contractor. On this basis the majority of work is likely to be given to the company which quotes the lowest prices. Upon successful application, an agreement will exist between the Council and each contractor, to authorise countryside access work to be carried out on the Council’s behalf. Keywords: Countryside Access, public rights of way, farmland