LDNPA Health & Safety Services (Three year contract)

Introduction and background to the project

The Authority is seeking a new provider for a range of Health and Safety services. Our current arrangement for Health and Safety expires on 31 March 2022. The intention of this tender is to procure a new arrangement to run for three years from 1 April 2022 (or at the earliest opportunity after that subject to further discussion post-bid and during evaluation). The Issue The Lake District National Park Authority (The Authority) was established in 1951, after Government enacted the National Parks and Access to Countryside Act in 1949. The Authority has the full status of a Local Authority, although some specific statutory powers are different to other local government bodies. The long term strategic vision for the Authority is that the National Park will be an inspirational example of sustainable development in action. The National Park covers an area of 229,200 hectares, and has a local population of only 42,000 but receives circa 20 million visitors each year. The Authority employs a staff of approximately 200, and benefits from about 500 volunteers who provide a total of about 6000 volunteered days of effort per year (although these volunteering activities have been curtailed over the last 2 years due to Covid restrictions). The Authority undertakes a broad variety of both indoor and outdoor work to fulfil its functions. Significant elements of our work include, • the construction and maintenance of rights-of-way (tracks and paths, bridges, styles, fencing, gates etc) within the National Park, • management of the byelaws on a number of lakes including Windermere where we have a Lake Ranger base with wet dock and boat yard, • the operation of a number of visitor sites for the public including a Boating Centre (with boat storage and boat hire), three tourist information centres / shops, and a National Park Visitor Centre (including an adventure playground, outdoor activities, café, gardens and lakeshore facilities) which receives approximately 300,000+ visitors per annum. • the management and operation of over 30 public car parks and 16 public toilets, • providing a programme of events and volunteer-led guided walks, • the provision and management of a wholly owned fleet of approximately 40 vehicles (off road and road-going) for use by our staff. Driving to site visits and meetings is thus a significant activity. We have a total of ten operational sites including both publically accessible sites and office/workshop sites. These are listed in Appendix 4. Our office/workshop sites for staff provide office facilities, meeting rooms, parking for staff and Authority vehicles, trailers and plant, indoor and outdoor storage for tools and equipment, and workshops for preparation and general equipment maintenance. Further information about our activities can be found on our website, www.lakedistrict.gov.uk, particularly in the About Us section, http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/aboutus.