Multi-service Delivery for Mendip District Council

idverde successfully delivered a ten-year multi-service contract for Mendip District Council, providing integrated environmental services across approximately 275 square miles of Somerset. Beginning in 2012, the partnership was established following the Council’s innovative procurement approach, which sought to improve efficiency, increase transparency and create greater flexibility by appointing a single contractor to deliver multiple public services.

The contract covered the cathedral city of Wells and the towns of Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Frome and Street, bringing together a wide range of operational services under one coordinated delivery model. These included grounds maintenance, arboriculture, street cleansing, facilities management, civil engineering, market stall operations and the maintenance of public conveniences.

A defining feature of the contract was idverde’s neighbourhood-based approach. Rather than operating separate service teams, multi-skilled neighbourhood teams were responsible for maintaining all aspects of their local areas. This enabled operatives to identify issues quickly, respond more efficiently and provide a more proactive service for local communities, while developing a detailed understanding of the neighbourhoods they maintained.

The contract employed more than 50 local staff, supported by seasonal operatives during peak periods, particularly around major events such as the Glastonbury Festival. Each year, teams maintained more than 1.18 million square metres of grass across parks, highway verges, cemeteries and public open spaces, alongside shrub, hedge and tree maintenance. Green waste generated through operations was sent to local composting facilities, helping reduce the environmental footprint of the service.

Beyond routine maintenance, idverde supported numerous community events throughout the district, including the Wells Food Festival, the Children’s Dance Festival and local winter carnivals. The flexibility of the integrated service model enabled teams to prepare venues, provide operational support and restore public spaces quickly following each event.

Throughout the partnership, idverde continued to invest in local employment, apprenticeships and workforce development, ensuring staff received ongoing training to deliver multiple specialist services while creating long-term social value within the communities they served.

The Mendip contract demonstrated how integrated environmental services can improve operational efficiency, increase responsiveness and deliver better outcomes for local authorities, residents and public spaces.