Issue - meetings

Background:

This report reviewed the progress of the garden and food waste processing contract currently delivered through Countrystyle.

It was noted that this contract was for the processing of collected garden and food waste (i.e. materials collected and delivered to their site at Ridham Docks, Sittingbourne, under the waste collection contract) with the aim of diverting biodegradable waste from landfill and producing a compost style product suitable for use on local agricultural land.

This was based upon the procurement process undertaken during 2007 - 2009 and had led to an award of contract by Cabinet on 22 September 2009 for service commencement on 4 October 2010.

This report set out details of a number of options, together with their respective advantages and disadvantages. It had been approved for submission to Cabinet after review and discussion by the Regeneration, Community and Culture Directorate Management Team on 24 November 2011 and Strategic Procurement Board on 30 November 2011.

A performance report providing an overview of the work carried out in the first year of the contract was attached to the report and an exempt appendix set out details of key information in relation to finance and the whole life costings of this contract.

Reasons:

The decisions are on the basis that this contract is providing value for money, and that Countrystyle are delivering high quality services for the residents of Medway while greatly assisting to achieve our statutory Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (LATS) targets.