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Herefordshire is seeking to avoid past mistakes when taking on a new contractor to look after the county’s roads and public spaces.

Following its announcement in April that it would cut short its contract with Balfour Beatty in 2026, Herefordshire Council has conducted “market engagement” with other public realm contractors.

A report for a cabinet meeting last week said six organisations were “interested and well placed to tender for the opportunity” when the council opens for bids from next month (January 2025).

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This “is considered adequate to ensure a competitive process, and a good outcome for the council”, the report said.

Cabinet member for community services Harry Bramer told the meeting that Balfour Beatty “have committed to supporting the transition to the new arrangements”.

He added that the new contract award is likely to be confirmed towards the end of next year, ready to come into effect from the following June.

Independents for Herefordshire leader Coun Liz Harvey said her group were “hugely supportive” of the process, but called it “a tight and challenging timeline”.

“It was a messy handover to our current contract from our previous one,” she added.

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Balfour Beatty took on the role in the county in 2013.

Green group leader Coun Diana Toynbee said she was “pleased to see it will align with our carbon and biodiversity targets, and hope weight will also be given to social value – it’s not all about the bottom line”.

Liberal Democrats leader Coun Terry James said he was “still rather worried” as this would be the fourth such contract since the unitary council came into being in 1998.

“The first three have not worked, partly down to the council itself, and most of us know that,” he said. “What makes you think it will work this time?”

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To which Coun Bramer said that following the previous contract with Amey, “the handover was poor because we were in litigation with that organisation”.

And while the current one with Balfour Beatty “started well, it later fell into a chasm of difficulties”.

“These contracts are vital in the county, and I have no doubt we will find the right supplier in the time we have given ourselves,” he said.