Decision details
Ubico Business Plan 2023/2024
Decision Maker: Executive
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Decisions:
Councillor Lidia Arciszewska, Executive Member for the Environment, introduced the report, which considered the Ubico Business Plan for 2023-24, and any comments made by the Finance and Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and also the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the draft Business Plan. The report further recommended that the Leader of the Council (as Shareholder Representative) approved the plan, subject to any comments the Executive wished to make and those made by other Shareholder Councils.
The Executive was joined at the meeting by Beth Boughton, Managing Director of Ubico, and Chris Urwin, Finance Director of Ubico, who had helped present the plan to the Executive for approval. Councillor Arciszewska highlighted the effectiveness of Ubico’s Business Plan, and the strengths of it that relate to the West Oxfordshire District ahead of the new municipal year. The plan focussed on continuous development, service improvements and provisions for staff and stakeholders of Ubico.
In debate, the Executive paid tribute to Ubico’s workforce who had gone above and beyond their duties during the Covid-19 pandemic, and at times of a shortfall in staffing levels at times of general illness. Appreciation was also given to the work of Council and Ubico officers when dealing with the initial backlog of suspended waste collections, during the first Covid-19 lockdown period, and the rectification work undertaken to catch up. The idea of an updated livery of the waste vehicles was also discussed and the enhancement of ‘In-Cab’ technology for waste bins and containers that become unserviceable during routine collections over time. It was also noted that there were many benefits of being structured as a “Teckal” company owned by a number of partner authorities. This helped to alleviate ‘cross-border’ issues with other local authorities in Gloucestershire, who are also using Ubico services for waste collection.
Councillor Arciszewska proposed that the Ubico Business Plan be adopted by the Leader of the Council. This was seconded by Councillor Andy Graham, was put to a vote, and was agreed unanimously by the Executive.
Executive Resolved to:
1. Recommend that, subject to any comments made, the Ubico Business Plan 2023-24 be approved by the Leader, as the Council’s Shareholder Representative of Ubico Limited, subject to any minor amendments that might arise from the final stages of consultation with the other Shareholder Councils and/or general editing.
Report author: Scott Williams
Publication date: 24/04/2023
Date of decision: 19/04/2023
Decided at meeting: 19/04/2023 - Executive
Effective from: 02/05/2023
Accompanying Documents:
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