EPU2324-01 - Support Services Framework in Managing Unauthorised Encampments - AWARD

Birmingham City Council (The Council) as the largest single local authority in the UK regularly experiences instances of unauthorised encamping mostly by members of the travelling community. These encampments regularly occur on park land and other public open spaces, mostly owned by the Council. This also includes unauthorised encampments established on our transit site.

The Council requires a framework of supplier(s) for the provision of enforcement agents / certified bailiffs to support the management of unauthorised encampments (the removal of encampments on Council owned land, typically established by Gypsies and various Traveller ethnic groupings).

This contract will be for a period of 1 year commencing July 2023.

The Council is looking to appoint up to two suppliers as part of a framework agreement, to ensure contingency of service delivery. The method of work allocation is covered in the section below entitled 'Allocation of Work'.

It should be noted that there is no guarantee of a specific level of work being allocated.

Unauthorised Encampments

Provision of certified bailiff / enforcement agent to act on behalf of and in support of the Council:

1. Conduct the initial site visit to the unauthorised encampment (UE) with the intention of determining the number of occupiers, who they are (family names) and any other relevant details (forms provided), conducting a Welfare Needs Assessment on the occupiers (with regards to medical and schooling needs), reporting back to the Council and completing relevant paperwork.
2. Serving of relevant documents / legal papers on the members of the UE to direct their departure from the land - this may be common law notices or notices under statute, or Court orders. This will normally take place on the same day as the initial site visit.
3. Undertaking a contact visit to the UE occupiers as required by the Council.
4. Supervise, direct and progress the eviction should a formal eviction be necessary. This is effectively a formal eviction under common law or statute or Court Order and may require vehicle(s) to tow caravans, etc. from the site to a nearby road. All evictions are undertaken with WMP present to ensure there is no breach of the peace.
5. Obtaining relevant information to enable identification of members of the encampment to enable the Council to take further legal action where appropriate. Relevant information may include VRM details, descriptions in witness statements and images from body-worn camera footage. A relevant data sharing agreement may be necessary to enable sharing of such information.

Allocation of Work

The Council will seek where possible to allocate the services to the appointed suppliers on an equal case allocation footing. Although where an incumbent supplier(s) has already been appointed an existing case(s) to engage with a traveller group previously, the Council reserves the right to retain their involvement due to...