Decision details

Provision of beach lifeguard services – direct award

Decision Maker: Corporate Director of Community Development

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

This is a re-procurement of an existing service, originally established in 2009 by Scarborough District Council as a rolling contract for the provision of Beach Lifeguard Services.
The current provision has been delivered effectively by the incumbent, with services operating successfully to support public safety.
However, the existing arrangements require updating to reflect changes in local authority governance, current legislative and procurement requirements, and evolving operational needs.
Following the publication of a Request for Information (RFI) no expressions of interest were received from any other perspective supplier therefore a decision is required to Direct Award the contract to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) for a period of 5 years with an option to extend for a further 5 years should both parties agree.

Decision:

That the Corporate Director Community Development approves the direct award of a contract to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) for a period of 10 years, commencing in January 2027 and ending in December 2036, for the provision of a fully managed beach lifeguarding service across designated beaches in Scarborough, Whitby, Filey, and surrounding areas for the reasons outlined in the report.

Reasons for the decision:

Following market engagement undertaken through a Request for Information (RFI) exercise, no external interest was identified. Subsequent legal advice has confirmed that proceeding with a direct award is appropriate, compliant with relevant regulations, and ensures transparency.

Alternative options considered:

None considered

Publication date: 10/06/2026

Date of decision: 10/06/2026

Accompanying Documents: