Haringey Council has extended its Nuisance Vehicle Removal Contract with Marston (Holdings) Limited (MHL), securing a £14,479 saving for the borough. The decision, made on 19 November 2025, ensures the continuation of a critical service that supports parking compliance and the council's wider transport objectives, while the council explores future options for managing nuisance, abandoned, and obstructive vehicles.

The extension of the Nuisance Vehicle Removal Contract was required to ensure continuity of a critical service that supported parking compliance and the Council's wider transport objectives. The contract also ensures that the service remains aligned with both the Council’s Corporate Delivery Plan and Haringey’s Transport Strategy, supporting the strategic goals of safety, sustainability, and resident satisfaction.

Councillor Seema Chandwani, Cabinet Member for Resident Services & Tackling Inequality, approved the one-year extension, valued at £1,117,720, which will run from 1 December 2025 to 30 November 2026. The extension allows the council time to conduct an in-house feasibility assessment to inform its long-term procurement strategy beyond 2026. This assessment will inform future decision-making on whether full procurement or internal delivery provides the best value and resilience for the borough.

The minutes of the meeting state that the decision was made to ensure the continuity of a critical service that supports parking compliance and the council's wider transport objectives. The contract is essential for maintaining public safety, protecting emergency access routes, and preserving the quality of life for residents.

The public reports pack highlights the contract's importance in supporting major events at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where the council has a statutory duty to maintain clear evacuation routes and emergency access corridors. Tottenham event days regularly generate significant traffic and parking pressure, and without a reliable removal service the Council would have been unable to manage obstructive vehicles that compromised safety.

Several alternative options were considered, including:

  • Do nothing: This was deemed unviable due to safety risks and compliance issues. Leaving the contract to lapse would have exposed residents and service users to safety risks and undermined compliance. Continuing the Nuisance Vehicle Removal Service was essential and the Council avoided several significant drawbacks upon the current contract's expiration. These included:
    • Inability to promptly remove abandoned vehicles: Without a contract in place, the Council would have struggled to address the issue of abandoned vehicles, which could cause public nuisance, obstruct traffic flow, and pose safety hazards.
    • Difficulty in dealing with unregistered vehicles: A lack of a removal contract could have made it challenging for the Council to handle the large number of unregistered vehicles identified during parking enforcement operations. These vehicles might have accumulated outstanding penalties and contributed to ongoing traffic violations.
    • Ineffective enforcement against persistent evaders: Without a removal contract, the Council might have been unable to deal with persistent evader vehicles effectively. This could have resulted in losing opportunities to recover outstanding debts associated with these vehicles.
    • Inability to meet commitments and obligations: If the Council had specific commitments or obligations outlined in local management plans, such as providing removal services during special events or designated areas, not having a vehicle removal contract could have prevented the Council from fulfilling these responsibilities.
  • In-house solution: Establishing a secure vehicle pound within the borough has proven challenging.
  • Full procurement: The market for nuisance vehicle removal is limited, and a new tender could attract higher bids due to inflationary pressures.

The extended contract will be funded from the Parking budget and is expected to be cost-neutral, with car pound income offsetting the expenses. The contract is expected to be cost neutral to the council as £1.2m is expected from car pound income.

The public reports pack states that the contract directly supports the council's Corporate Delivery Plan 2024-26, contributing to a Safer Haringey, responding to the Climate Emergency, enhancing Place and Economy, and improving Resident Experience and Enabling Success. The contract directly supports delivery of the council's Corporate Delivery Plan 2024 - 26, contributing to the following themes:

  • Responding to the Climate Emergency: by reducing congestion and vehicle emissions through efficient enforcement and clear traffic routes.
  • Place and Economy: by enhancing the borough's street environment, supporting accessibility for businesses and visitors, and contributing to local regeneration.