On 14 October 2025 Cabinet:-
(i)
Approved the
adoption of the new operating model across all of the City Council’s remaining
nurseries from its existing “Grow and Plant” service to a “Buy In” service as
set out in the report;
(ii)
Approved the
continued production of plants to be used to support the ongoing sale of plant
material from King’s Heath Nursery as well as a more limited retail offer from
Cofton, detailed in the report;
(iii)
Approved the
revised budget structure, which will deliver the £151k budget saving (required
by the 2025/26 budget) and ensure that the new operating model operates on a
full cost recovery basis as explained in the Finance section of this report
(Section 8.5, to the report);
(iv)
Approved that a
full options appraisal, including a community partnership model, is carried out
regarding the Kings Heath Nursery and Park House;
(v)
Noted that
Cabinet has been advised of the planned procurements for the Supply of
Specialist Plants; Spring/Summer Bedding & Shop Sales products at the April
Cabinet meeting via the PPAR process, project reference P1113;
(vi)
Noted that the
Nursery Service, as a traded function, remains a priority within the scope of
the Council’s Traded Services Review. Accordingly, any decisions arising from
the proposals of this report will be subject to any future recommendations from
that review and/or the Commercial Board, which may result in a further report
being brought forward;
(vii)
Noted that the
revised service will retain capacity to ensure that both external contracts and
internal floral displays are continued as detailed in section 4.12, to the
report;
(viii)
Noted that nursey
staffing headcount will reduce from the current structure 15 FTEs to a proposed
7 FTEs. The reduction will be delivered by reducing agency and some staff
leaving the service; and
(ix) Noted the
proposed implementation timetable as detailed in section 4.14, to the report.
THE DEADLINE FOR CALL IN IS
1600 HOURS ON MONDAY 20 OCTOBER 2025.