Kingston's Green Spaces Officer Rob Waite, together with Quadron's Contract Manager Mark Garthwaite and Horticultural Development Manager, Andy Kauffman were delighted to pick up the Partnering Award at the Horticulture Week's Landscape and Amenity Awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel on 3 November 2009.
Quadron's contract with The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames is managed as a partnership between contractor and client and a seamless service delivery has resulting in an excellent, cost efficient and continually improving service focussed on meeting the needs of local residents.
The partnership is responsible for all grounds maintenance activities, working on behalf of a range of internal client departments as well as external stakeholders such as allotment societies, sports leagues and Friends groups. Quadron's supervisory structure at local level mirrors the Council's four neighbourhoods enabling the partnership to be represented by successful local relationships within each area.
To ensure a high quality of customer service and to focus upon meeting the sometimes conflicting demands of the various stakeholders, a Horticultural Development Manager was employed by the partnership to work alongside the Contract Manager. The role is free of daily operational responsibilities therefore allowing time to deliver an enhanced level of customer care and to liaise individually with the various groups to meet their aspirations. The HDM has gained sponsorship and funding for various projects, for example from the Heritage Lottery Fund and London Marathon Trust. This has played a huge role in the success of the partnership in meeting the priorities of local people.
To date in excess of 150k has funded a trim trail, created a wildflower meadow in line with the new Green Spaces Strategy, and improved housing planting schemes and local playground facilities.
Local Sustainability - the partnership jointly developed the local Green Spaces Strategy during 2007/8, particularly focussing upon Community Engagement issues, communicating with tenant groups and various voluntary organisations and liaising with other service providers and the Council's Ecology and other relevant Officers to ensure amendment of working practices where necessary to assist with implementation of this and the Bio-diversity Action Plan.
Supporting community groups - The partnership working ethos extends beyond the two main partners to incorporate a wide range of stakeholders particularly from within the local community. Partnership managers attend meetings with stakeholder groups as required, in and out of normal working hours, and have developed strong links. The supporting evidence shows what has been achieved through the joint working arrangements.
Encouraging greater usage of facilities - a particular concern of the partnership is to develop failing recreational facilities within open spaces to encourage greater usage. Managers liaise with various sports organisations, clubs, schools, sports development and leisure officers, residents and allotment associations to ensure the interests of all parties are met and that all are satisfied with the service received. A Recreation Development Manager has recently been employed to target improvements in the provision of leisure facilities and participation levels and is currently working with the Council to develop the Sports Strategy.
Delivering efficiencies and continual improvements - the Authority dictates the annual budget according to its available funds and service aspirations. Due to budget pressure in 2007/8, for example, the contract price reduced by 83k. This was achieved partly through efficiency savings made during the first two years of the contract, and partly by jointly agreeing a change in priority levels in the specification. Open book accounts are produced and any forecast shortfall is dealt with by reallocating resources and reprioritising tasks.
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