Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval from Council to add the purchase of the Refuse and Recycling Fleet to the Capital Programme to support an increase in both recycling and organics collections to weekly in line with black sack refuse collections.

Discussion:

This report sought approval from Full Council to add the purchase of the Refuse and Recycling Fleet to the capital programme and to support an increase in both recycling and organics collections to weekly in line with black sack refuse collections, following the award to the Council from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) of £14 million.

It was noted that in respect of exemption 2 (page 315 of the agenda), the Director of Children and Adults had approved the exemption request on 9 December 2011.

Councillor Filmer, Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services, supported by Councillor Jarrett, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Deputy Leader, proposed the recommendation set out in the report.

Decision:

The Council agreed to add to the capital programme the scheme for the capital purchase of the recycling and refuse fleet in order to introduce weekly recycling and organic waste collectionand maintain the weekly residual waste collection service for a minimum of 5 years as per the funding criteria.

Background:

This report sought permission to amend the Collection Services and Street Cleansing Service contract currently being delivered and awarded to Veolia Environmental Services. This was to facilitate an increase in the frequency of recycling and organics kerbside collections from fortnightly to weekly. Further information relating to permissions was detailed within the report.

It was noted that proposed changes in service delivery were subject to funding from the Department of Communities and Local Government’s  ‘Weekly Collection Support Fund’. This challenge fund had been established by Government to encourage local authorities to retain or reinstate weekly rubbish collections. Medway Council had submitted a bid for both revenue and capital funding proposing an increase in both recycling and organics collections to weekly in line with black sack refuse collections.

An addendum report advised that, since the publication of the agenda, the Department for Communities and Local Government had confirmed that the bid had been successful subject to the terms and conditions. The Council would therefore receive funding totalling £14,029,901 over three years for the weekly collections services.

It was reported that this Procurement Gateway 5 report had been approved for submission to Cabinet after review and discussion at Regeneration, Community and Culture Directorate Management Team meeting on 25 October and the Strategic Procurement Board on 31 October 2012.

The Portfolio Holder and officers were thanked for their efforts in securing the funds.

An exempt appendix contained key information in respect of finance and whole-life costings.

Reasons:

The decisions are provided on the basis that this enhanced service will

• put the customer at the centre  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13