Agenda item

Future Contracting Approach for Waste and Public Realm Services (CAB 044/101)

Meeting of Cabinet - Expired, Wednesday, 6th October, 2010 5.30 p.m. (Item 6.3)

Decision:

Councillor J. Peck declared a prejudicial interest in Agenda item 6.3 “Future Contracting Approach for Waste and Public Realm Services” (CAB 044/101). The declaration of interest was made on the basis that the report contained recommendations which could have implications for a company with which Councillor Peck’s employer had a contract.

Councillor J. Peck, (Vice-Chair in the Chair)having declared a prejudicial interest in Agenda item 6.3 withdrew from the proceedings at the commencement of consideration of this item of business, being 6.45pm.

COUNCILLOR D. EDGAR, LEAD MEMBER RESOURCES IN THE CHAIR

Resolved

1. That the proposed contracting approach for short to medium term waste disposal arrangements be approved, including the possible extension of the Veolia Contract; and

2. That the Corporate Director Communities Localities and Culture be authorised, following agreement with the Lead Member for Environment, to

(a) finalise contract negotiations with Veolia, including extending the Waste Disposal Contract for a period up to the extension term allowed in the contract and combining other waste collection and recycling activities within the Municipal Waste Cleansing Contract as appropriate.

(b) negotiate to vary the waste management cleansing contract with Veolia.

(c) negotiate where legally possible to extend any of the other Public Realm services contracts detailed at paragraph 6.11 of the report (CAB 044/101) which will require an extension so an integrated contract can be procured.

(d) after consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services), authorise and enter into any necessary deeds of variation of agreements in respect of these contracts

(e) commence any necessary procurement process in the event negotiations are not successful.

3. That the future contracting approach for Public Realm services and works contracts [set out in the report CAB 044/101)] be approved in principle.

Action by

CORPORATE DIRECTOR COMMUNITIES, LOCALITIES AND CULTURE

(S. HALSEY)

Service Head Public Realm, Communities, Localities and Culture (J. Blake)

Head of Waste Strategy, Policy and Procurement, Public Realm, Communities Localities and Culture (F. Heyland)

Councillor J. Peck, (Vice-Chair) re-entered the proceedings following the conclusion of the Cabinet deliberations in respect of this item, being 6.51pm.

COUNCILLOR J. PECK (VICE-CHAIR) IN THE CHAIR

Minutes:

COUNCILLOR D. EDGAR, LEAD MEMBER RESOURCES IN THE CHAIR

Mr Halsey, Corporate Director Communities Localities and Culture, at the request of the Chair in introducing the report:

· Briefly summarised the key points contained therein, highlighting in particular that:

o Proposed a short/ medium term and longer term approach for the Authority’s future waste management arrangements. In the longer term it was proposed that a series of public realm service and works contracts were brought together and re-packaged with a view to improved service delivery and deliver efficiency savings and cost avoidance. However in the short term it was proposed that existing contracts be varied/ extended in order to allow Officers and Members time to identify and work through the most appropriate approach to the longer term objective, and authority to undertake the variation be delegated to himself after consultation with the Lead Member.

o The waste and public realm contracts to which the approach referred to above would apply, together with the timescales involved, were set out at paragraph 6.11 and Appendix A of the report.

· Addressed the matters raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, held on 5^th October 2010, in relation to the report; as set out in the tabled sheet of questions and comments presented by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee earlier in the proceedings:

A discussion followed, during which the proposals in the report were broadly welcomed, and which focused on the following points:-

· Consideration that the bringing together of waste and public realm contracts for re-packaging was a big exercise and it would be important to take great care with this, and in particular the arrangements for management of the new contracts, to both secure the anticipated benefits but also to avoid the pitfalls and difficulties that could arise. The process was clearly designed to be thorough but the outcome of such processes in the past had not always been successful.

· It would be important to have in place an effective compliance framework for the new re-packaged waste and public realm contracts, and there was a role for Overview and Scrutiny to take on here.

· Clarification/ assurance was sought regarding the placement of paladin bins in inappropriate locations after waste collection, by the operatives of the Council’s contractor. Corporate Director Communities Localities and Culture to follow this up with the relevant Cabinet member outside the meeting.

The Chair in Moving the recommendations as set out in the report, commented that the Cabinet was conscious that substantial work was yet to be undertaken to put the new waste/ public realm contract framework in place, but it was important to agree the proposals in the report in order for the Authority to place itself in a position to do so; and it was:-