Leics awarded for its positive role in successful alliance

10 June 2009

Leicestershire County Council won the national Government Opportunities (GO) awards last week for its lead role in the Midlands Highways Alliance (MHA).

The council beat off competition from the Department of Works and Pensions and councils from London, North Yorkshire and Wales, to win the ‘best collaborative procurement’ award.

The alliance was set up to share best practice, to arrange bulk-buying of highways materials and carry out joint purchasing.
A ‘bank’ of four contractors has also been secured under the alliance framework to carry out large and medium highway maintenance schemes. This saves time and money appointing new contractors each time.

Since it launched in 2007, the Midlands Highways Alliance is estimated to have saved close to £1.4M. These savings are forecast to rise to nearly £11M by 2011.

Matthew Lugg, director of highways at Leicestershire council and chair of the MHA, said: ‘Though financial savings is the target of the partnership, it is important not to forget the other opportunities it brings, such as service improvements through shared knowledge, shared training, increased outputs and the creation of work for our own construction teams.’

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