Council garage secures contract to service Amey vehicles

Plymouth City Council has been awarded a contract worth £120,000 to provide vehicle servicing and maintenance for over 50 Amey vehicles, creating more jobs and helping to reduce overheads.

The Council’s fleet and garage team will be responsible for the service schedules, vehicle maintenance and breakdown repairs for plant vehicles, heavy goods vehicles and vans.

As a result of the new contract the team has been able to take on two new apprentices and a fitter to assist with vehicle maintenance. The remaining money will be used to offset accommodation and staffing costs and will enable the service to offer a reduced hourly rate.

By moving all its servicing and maintenance requirements to the Council’s garage Amey will reduce its downtime, as staff will not have to travel to other locations for these services. It will also mean a reduced carbon footprint for the company.

The contract is due to start in July 2015 and comes at a time when the Council is thinking differently about how it makes more of the services and assets it holds.

Councillor Jon Taylor, Cabinet Member for Transformation, said: “It’s really fantastic that we have been able to think differently and create more flexibility in this service. Our transformation plans are not just about saving money but also improving what we have and looking for opportunities to generate income by taking a more commercial approach.

“This is a great example of working with our partners to find a better solution, expand the use of our services, create more jobs and contribute towards a cleaner Plymouth through reduced emissions.”