Decision details
Ubico Business Plan 2025-26
Decision Maker: Executive
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: No
Decisions:
Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of the Council, introduced the item the purpose of which was to consider the Ubico Business Plan 2025-26, which had been produced by Ubico in consultation with the Directors and Shareholders, and to recommend that the Leader (as Shareholder Representative) approve the plan. It was noted that the plan had been to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 4 December 2024 which had made the following recommendations:
1. That the Council asked that Ubico reviewed its policy on the use of pesticides and herbicides.
2. That the Council asked that Ubico reviewed the content of the HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil) fuel and assessed whether it contained palm oil.
3. That the Council asked that Ubico reviewed flood support and emergency plans in areas with frequent flooding to address provisions for missed bin collections in the instance of flooding.
4. That the Council considered how it communicated with its residents on how to recycle glass, for instance by including this information in the council tax leaflet.
Councillor Graham summarised the Executive’s response to the recommendations, which had been circulated at the meeting, as follows:
1. This recommendation was agreed. It was noted that Ubico had reviewed its policy on the use of pesticides and herbicides. Ubico had considered alternative methods of weed control and to include products such as New Way and Finalsan. However, officers had completed extensive research on the options and associated costs, and had established that locally the quantities applied on Council owned land had been reduced to 12 litres per season at a cost of £200. Changing to alternatives like New Way and Finalsan would have cost between £7-10k a year. Treatments only took place in public car parks, Depots, and at Woodgreen and not in playgrounds or open spaces.
2. This recommendation was not agreed. It was noted that Ubico did not use hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) in any council vehicles.
3. This recommendation was agreed. It was noted that this review was done as part of Ubico’s Business Continuity Planning. There was a business continuity plan in place between West Oxfordshire District Council through the Emergency Contingency, and Flooding Teams and Ubico. This detailed how Ubico would respond to meet the Council’s needs, and how waste and recycling would be collected should adverse weather impact on the daily services.
4. This recommendation was agreed. The council had an annual communications plan and this included key messages about waste and recycling which was distributed through various communications channels. The Council regularly communicated with residents via the web site, bin hangers and stickers, as well as publicity on vehicles, social media, direct mailing, and via e-newsletters
Councillor Graham proposed the Executive’s response to the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the Ubico Business Plan 2025-26 be agreed.
Councillor Lidia Arciszewska, Executive Member for Environment, seconded the recommendation.
This was voted on and approved unanimously.
RESOLVED: To agree the Executive’s response to the recommendation put forward by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Councillor Graham then proposed accepting the recommendations in the report regarding the Ubico Business Plan 2025-26.
Councillor Arciszewska seconded the recommendation.
This were voted on and approved unanimously.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive:
1. Noted the Ubico Business Plan 2025-26; and
2. Noted that, subject to feedback from the Executive, the Leader of the Council, as Shareholder Representative, would sign the written resolution to approve the Ubico Business Plan 2025-2026 in due course.
Publication date: 23/04/2025
Date of decision: 23/04/2025
Decided at meeting: 23/04/2025 - Executive
Accompanying Documents:
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