In response to looming cuts to council spending budgets, Shropshire Council plans to tie up with Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council in the hope of cutting highways maintenance spending by at least 10%.

Each council spends around £20m each year on highways upkeep and have decided using one contractor will bring economies of scale.

Under the current timetable the contract is due to start in April 2012 in Shropshire and next October in Cheshire West and Chester.

Council maintenance teams will be transferred over for an initial period of six years with the option to extend by a further period of up to four years.

The framework will cover all planned and reactive maintenance in the area, although street lighting will initially be excluded from the scope of works.

Interested firms have until 9 December to submit PQQs for selection on to a shortlist of six bidders for tendering to start in February.

Nigel Denton, head of Procurement at Shropshire County Council, will handle the procurement process. Email: [email protected]