SUPPORT services company, Mouchel Parkman, is celebrating five years working in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC), providing engineering and property services across the county.

Senior officers from the council marked the occasion at Mouchel Parkman's Northallerton office with a celebratory reception.

Peter Sowray, the county council's executive member for environmental services, said: "The needs of the community have been served extremely well as a result of this partnership, which has developed beyond its initial objectives and has secured increased funding as a result."

The partnership was established in April 1999 after Mouchel Parkman was selected as the preferred bidder.

More than 130 employees from a network of offices across Yorkshire form the Yorkshire Business Unit, responsible for running the contract.

Philip Wade, Mouchel Parkman's business unit director in Yorkshire, said: "It's a credit to all those in the partnership that the service provision in the community has been enhanced - and we just wanted to get together to celebrate this achievement.

As well as managing the council's agricultural, residential and commercial properties, partnership projects have included:

Working on the current £28 million Scarborough Integrated Transport Scheme which includes a park and ride site, urban traffic control and bus priority measures. The group is also heading the £6.5m 3km bypass of Reighton village, which is awaiting a decision from the Inspector after undergoing a public local inquiry

Asset valuation, rating and revaluation on non-domestic rates for schools, homes and depots along with disposing of surplus land and property including the former county training base, Grantley Hall near Ripon

Reviewing and developing traffic and transport provision in market towns across the county.

Updated: 10:13 Tuesday, April 20, 2004