Council Response To Jarvis Announcement

Herefordshire Council signed agreements in September 2003 with Jarvis plc to form Herefordshire Jarvis Services (HJS).

This landmark deal formed one of the first Strategic Delivery Partnerships in the UK.

Since then HJS has provided the community with highways and traffic services, civic and school catering, grounds maintenance, street and building cleaning, recycling facilities, building management and maintenance as well as other support services.

In response to today’s announcement that it is on the verge of signing a deal with Accord plc for the sale of its Highway Maintenance business (which includes its shareholding in Herefordshire Jarvis Services), Cllr Roger Phillips, the Leader of the Council, said:

“We feel comfortable with today’s announcement that Jarvis plc is in an advanced state of negotiation with Accord plc.

“The original contract to establish Herefordshire Jarvis Services was groundbreaking and we have seen real progress under the contract, particularly in the last few months.

“However, we recognise that Jarvis’ name has caused difficulty for some, despite the progress that has been made.

“Accord plc ran Jarvis a very close second when the original contract was signed in 2003. We therefore know a good deal about Accord and know that its processes and methods of work mean that it will be able to fully support the Council’s aspirations.

“We’re optimistic that this move will realise the benefits of this type of contact.

“Once the negotiations have been completed, we expect a seamless transfer of services to the new company. This should provide reassurance to the staff of HJS, the contractors with whom they work and the wider community”.