Specialist Fleet Services to provide new Corby and Kettering Council fleet

Kettering Borough Council and Corby Borough Council has announced a merger of their services, and as a result, Specialist Fleet Services will provide a new fleet of 35 vehicles.

The procurement of a new fleet of vehicles, due for delivery on February 2, 2019, will see Corby’s 10-year outsourcing arragement cease and brought back in-house. Kettering will be the lead authority for the new shared service.

Kettering Borough Council’s head of environmental care Brendan Coleman said: “Merging our services in this way means that we can share resources and ultimately provide better value for money to local residents across both areas. 

"We are confident that the implementation of a new, fit for purpose fleet, in Corby will lead to immediate service improvements in the area.”

Contract hire and fleet management company Specialist Fleet Services (SFS), will be providing the new fleet, which comprises 35 vehicles including refuse trucks, recycling vehicles, sweepers, tipper trucks and transit vans. 

SFS has been Kettering Borough Council’s vehicle partner for more than 15 years and is now set to continue working with the Authority for an additional nine years.

There are two years remaining on the current seven-year contract, which comprises vehicle provision, maintenance and workshop management, and this has been extended for a further seven years.

SFS’ managing director Bob Sweetland said: “It’s fantastic news that Kettering BC has extended its contract with us; the fourth time it has done so since we started working together. 

"We look forward to working with both councils to help them optimise their fleet to deliver the best possible services to residents.”

Coleman said: “We have been working with SFS for many years and they have always impressed us with their responsiveness and professionalism.

"They have the right combination of expertise in vehicle provision, maintenance and workshop management, and they have consistently provided us with cost and efficiency savings.  We look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship.”