Blackburn businesses are to be invited to bid for a share of £600,000 a year of local authority minor highways works.

A new framework for the contracts has been agreed by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. The borough’s regeneration boss Cllr Quesir Mahmood has approved the new system which specifically ensures local firms can compete for the work, reports Lanc Live.

In a report to colleagues he says: “The council currently spends approximately £600,000 a year with external contractors to provide various repair and maintenance works for the highways team. A new long term framework agreement is required to meet these requirements. The estimated value of the new agreement means the council needs to undertake a tendering exercise.

“The council needs to establish a minor works framework as part of its highway maintenance function that include labour, plant and occasionally materials. The contractor/s will mainly provide gangs of two or three operatives that will work independently or alongside the council’s highways team.

“Works include but are not restricted to repairing, maintaining and installing: kerbing, edging, channelling, step units; footway paving; drainage; renewing and / or adjustment levels of existing ironwork; ducting of all types; bituminous surfaces; groundworks; install street furniture; brickwork, blockwork and stonework, and traffic signals.

“By the council carrying out its own tendering exercise rather than using a national framework agreement will mean local businesses have the opportunity to bid. The new contract will initially be for two years with the option to extend for a further two times 12 months dependent on performance.

“Use of an existing framework agreement was rejected as it would mean local businesses would not on the framework and be unable to bid. The successful contracts will be required to fix their prices for 24 months.”