Cheshire East Council has awarded a three-year contract worth £108,000 to Derby City Council for the provision of an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera and digital enforcement service, in what appears to be an unusual arrangement between two local authorities.
The contract, listed on the Government’s Find a Tender service, is titled ANPR Camera and Digital Enforcement Services Agreement.
The agreement runs from today (29 September 2026) to 28 September 2029, with a total value of £108,000 excluding VAT. The service is intended to support road safety and civil parking enforcement at School Keep Clear locations.
The award raises questions about how the arrangement will operate in practice, including whether Derby City Council will provide and manage the cameras directly or act as an intermediary for a third-party technology provider.
It is also unclear from the published information why Cheshire East Council selected Derby City Council to provide the service or whether the arrangement forms part of a wider shared-service agreement between the two authorities.
The arrangement is notable because it involves one local authority purchasing a specialist ANPR enforcement service from another, rather than directly from a private-sector supplier.
(Picture: Cheshire East Council)
