Decision details

Having agreed to note the confidential appendix to the officer report it was

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the procurement of a service contract for Printing and Mailing Services for Bulk Document printing of Council Tax, Business Rates, Benefits, Business Improvement Districts (”BIDS”), Parking Enforcement and Sundry Debt documents be authorised with a maximum value of £0.8m over 4 years (£200,000 annually) or £1.2m over 6 years if the option to extend the contract for a further 2 years was exercised;

(2)            the draft tender documents be approved;

(3)            the Interim Director/Director of Finance and Assurance be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Human Resources, to make any necessary changes to the tender documents following approval;

(4)            the Interim Director/Director of Finance and Assurance be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Human Resources, to award the new contract to the successful bidder.

Reason for Decision:  Not procuring an external partner, would potentially leave the authority with limited ability to collect approximately £260m per annum in relation to unpaid Council Tax, Business Rates, Parking Control Notices (PCN’s) and other unpaid Council charges, which would impact adversely on the Council’s budget.  It would also mean that the London Borough of Harrow would be unable to fulfil its statutory duty to issue bills. Cabinet authorisation of the procurement was required to comply with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules.