Issue - meetings

RESOLVED –

1. That the Head of Housing, Health and Environment be given authority to extend the provision of limited financial assistance between November 2022 and March 2023, to Urbaser Ltd and Urbaser SA in respect of the contract originally procured be approved.

2. That a one-off contribution of up to £150,000 be given to Urbaser Ltd towards the costs of terminating a number of existing collection vehicle leases to facilitate the provision of a new fleet of collection vehicles in 2023/24 be approved. 

3. That the Head of Housing, Health and Environment in consultation with the Director of Finance, Policy and Development and the Head of Legal Services be given delegated authority to complete all necessary negotiations, legal processes and legal documentation to enter into an agreement with Urbaser Ltd to allow for the transfer of vehicle lease(s) to the Council in conjunction with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council or to the organisation(s) contracted to provide the two councils’ household waste collection service on the expiry of the current joint recycling and waste collection and street cleansing contract be approved. 

4. That the Head of Housing, Health and Environment in consultation with the Director of Finance, Policy and Development and the Head of Legal Services be given delegated authority to complete all necessary negotiations, legal processes and legal documentation and enter into an agreement with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council to share the liability for the new vehicle fleet from the end of the current joint household recycling and waste collection and street cleansing contract be approved.

5. That a Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice will be published containing details of the proposed changes set out in recommendations, 1,2 and 3 to cover the items highlighted above be noted.

REASON FOR DECISION:

The proposal would meet both objectives of ensuring the retention of necessary staff and bring about long term cost certainty and efficiencies.

Councillor Luke Everitt, Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, introduced Gary Stevenson, Head of Housing, Health and Environment who presented the report as set out in the agenda.

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

-       Mid Kent Partnership on waste (Ashford, Swale and Maidstone) had recently procured their new contract with an external supplier.  The Councils had made the decision that they would purchase the vehicles rather than lease them. 

-       TWBC wouldn’t be taking on the leases. In 2027, TWBC would transfer the leases from Urbaser to the new service provider. 

-       The new fleet of vehicles would be able to use HBO fuel which had the ability to reduce carbon emissions by about 90%. 

-       It was about 6 times more expensive to process if food waste was put in the normal waste rather than in the food caddies. 

RESOLVED –

1. That the Head of Housing, Health and Environment be given authority to extend the provision of limited financial assistance between November 2022 and March 2023, to Urbaser Ltd and Urbaser SA in respect of the contract originally procured be approved.

2. That a one-off contribution of up to £150,000 be given to Urbaser Ltd towards the costs of terminating a number of existing collection vehicle leases to facilitate the provision of a new fleet of collection vehicles in 2023/24 be approved. 

3. That the Head of Housing, Health and Environment in consultation with the Director of Finance, Policy and Development and the Head of Legal Services be given delegated authority to complete all necessary negotiations, legal processes and legal documentation to enter into an agreement with Urbaser Ltd to allow for the transfer of vehicle lease(s) to the Council in conjunction with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council or to the organisation(s) contracted to provide the two councils’ household waste collection service on the expiry of the current joint recycling and waste collection and street cleansing contract be approved.  

4. That the Head of Housing, Health and Environment in consultation with the Director of Finance, Policy and Development and the Head of Legal Services be given delegated authority to complete all necessary negotiations, legal processes and legal documentation and enter into an agreement with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council to share the liability for the new vehicle fleet from the end of the current joint household recycling and waste collection and street cleansing contract be approved.

5. That a Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice will be published containing details of the proposed changes set out in recommendations, 1,2 and 3 to cover the items highlighted above be noted.

REASON FOR DECISION:

The proposal would meet both objectives of ensuring the retention of necessary staff and bring about long term cost certainty and efficiencies.