Decision details

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport seeking authority to delegate award for the new smart ticketing contract to the Director of Economy and Environment. This decision is required to ensure the procurement timescales can be adhered to and the contract awarded once the tender evaluation process has been undertaken.

To delegate authority to the Director of Environment and Economy to take action necessary to procure and enter into a contract for the delivery of a smart ticketing back office system.

1. To enable the Council to award the contract for smart ticketing without delay, once the tender process has been undertaken in partnership with other Transport for South Hampshire and Isle of Wight (TfSHIoW) authorities.
2. The smart ticketing back office system currently supports Southampton’s SmartCities card which delivers key services, including Southampton’s English National Concessionary Travel Scheme.

The option of seeking Cabinet approval once the tender evaluation process has been undertaken was considered. This was rejected on the grounds that it would unnecessarily delay contract award and potentially impact upon the transfer of the current back office arrangements to the new provider. The Local Sustainable Transport fund (LSTF) funding provided by the Department for Transport (DfT) is required to be spent within the current financial year.