£70m Norse joint venture with Great Yarmouth Borough Council renewed

Norse Commercial Services has renewed its long standing partnership with Great Yarmouth Borough Council, GYB Services Ltd, for the delivery of frontline services in the area. The renewal of the arrangement, through to March 2023 and valued at around £70 million, is a Joint Venture Company (JVC) jointly owned by Norse and the council. Since 2003GYB Services has reduced the costs of providing the services by around £1.8m, and has been able to return to the council £740k in profit share which has been ploughed back into public funds. GYBS provides a wide range of services to the Borough including, refuse collection and recycling, street cleaning, public toilet cleaning and maintenance, buildings cleaning, grounds maintenance services, vehicle maintenance, footway lighting maintenance, some building and civic engineering work and burials services. It will also be taking over pest control later in the year. Norse Sales Director Geoff Tucker said, “With public sector managers expected to deliver drastic cost savings, widespread efficiencies and innovative ways of working, while avoiding a major impact on the communities they serve, long-term agreements such as these help councils to provide frontline services at competitive costs. They also provide stability for the workforce and continuity of high-quality service delivery.” Cllr Trevor Wainwright, the leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: “I am delighted with the renewed partnership between the borough council and Norse Commercial Services. The new approach will give the council much greater influence over the delivery of services in the area.” “Services will continue to be delivered to the high standard the borough council expects, but the set-up will be more accountable and responsive to local needs. Under the agreement, a percentage of profits generated will also be ploughed back into public funds, helping to further improve council services,” he added. In the last 12 months Norse has renewed another 10-year Joint venture partnership with Suffolk Coastal District Council, and formed new joint ventures with a combined annual value of over £45 million with councils in Barnsley, Medway, Norwich and Suffolk. Over the last five years Norse has paid nearly £7.5 million in rebates to its JVC partners, in addition to the £40 million in public sector cost savings that Norse Group has helped to create over the last five years though more efficient working. Norse Group operates 22 JVCs around the country with councils including Barnsley, Devon, Enfield, Medway, Norwich, Suffolk, Waveney and Wellingborough.