Connaught starts work on £125m integrated services contract after council resolves dispute with previous provider Morrison

Contractor Morrison has settled a dispute with Norwich City Council over the award of housing repairs and maintenance work to rival Connaught.

The deal allows Connaught to begin work on the £125m integrated services contract it won with the council in December to provide waste and recycling, grounds maintenance, street cleaning, tree works, council house repairs, maintenance and improvements, gas and solid fuel maintenance and servicing, asbestos management and electrical and mechanical servicing.

The award of the permanent contract was originally delayed as a result of an injunction brought by Morrison, the incumbent provider.

A spokeswoman for Norwich City Council said: “We’re pleased we’ve been able to resolve our differences with Morrison in connection with the demobilisation of CityCare services.

“Starting from today our two main contactors, Connaught Partnerships Limited and Norse Commercial Services Limited, will begin work on delivering the council’s multi-million pound services.”

Connaught said it began work as planned on 1 April under a short-term contract and the permanent contract is due to start on 8 April. Peter Jones, chief executive of Connaught Partnerships, said he was “delighted” at the news. “This ends many weeks of uncertainty and brings much needed peace of mind both for residents and for the CityCare staff who TUPE transferred to us this morning.

A spokesperson for Morrison said: “Morrison and Norwich City Council are pleased to have resolved their differences over the demobilisation of CityCare services and look forward to a seamless transition to the new service providers.”

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