Issue - decisions
Waste Fleet Purchase
10/10/2024 - Waste Fleet Purchase
Councillor Alaric Smith, Executive Member for Finance, introduced the report, in the absence of Councillor Lidia Arciszewska, Executive Member for Environment. The report sought approval to procure ten new waste fleet vehicles and the associated infrastructure for any electric vehicles.
It was outlined that the waste service had thirty-five frontline collection vehicles with most of these approaching the end of their life. It was suggested that the Executive consider the purchase of four vehicles and to delegate responsibility for the purchase or lease of a further six vehicles. This would make the procurement of the vehicles smoother and will allow for better management of the Council’s Capital Programme.
It was explained that without reliable replacements, the vehicles, and therefore the service, would become unstable and could result in service disruption and additional costs relating to repairs and maintenance. Waste was the only council provided service that most residents used each week, so having an unreliable vehicle fleet would lead to reputational damage and could lead to significant impacts on residents.
A Member/Officer Steering Group met on 17 July 2024 and determined that the following vehicles were due for renewal:
- 4 x Food Waste Vehicles 7.5te and retain one of the existing fleet as a spare;
- 1 x 7.5te vehicle with bin lift for ultra narrow access collections;
- 2 x 26te vehicles used across both refuse and garden waste collections;
- 3 x supervisor vans
In debate, Councillor Michele Mead requested that the report go to Overview and Scrutiny and it was agreed that there was time for it to go to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Recommendations 1 and 2 could go ahead as planned and recommendation 3 would be agreed in principal but it was suggested that proposed procurements under the delegated authority would be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration. It was confirmed that the Council would be the first in the area that would operate a fully-electric food waste service.
Councillor Alaric Smith proposed that the Executive agree the recommendations as listed on the original report. This was seconded by Councillor Andrew Prosser, was put to a vote, and was unanimously agreed by the Executive.
The Executive Resolved to:
1. Agree to the purchase of 3 fully electric supervisor vehicles;
2. Agree to the purchase 1 standard fuel ultra-narrow access vehicle;
3. Delegate authority to the Assistant Director for Commercial Development, in consultation with the Executive Members for Environment and Finance, and the Director of Finance, to purchase or lease up to 2 x full size HGV’s and up to 4 food waste vehicles and necessary charging infrastructure up to an estimated cost of £2.8M, (including a procurement contingency and estimated cost of borrowing), on the understanding that proposals under this delegation will be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.