Issue - meetings

Mr Wimble- Cabinet Member for Environment presented the item, Susan Reddick was also in attendance

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1.    Mr Wimble outlined the procurement of two contractual arrangements for the management and haulage services required at Kent’s household waste and recycling centres, as well as its waste transfer stations. These contracts were currently held by FCC Environmental Limited and Commercial Services Kent Limited. The total budget allocated for these services was £14.6 million.

2.    An 18-month extension had been previously agreed with both parties. However, several issues had since emerged and included the ongoing local government review, which had significantly increased the risk profile of the procurement process. As a result, KCC’s ability to secure best value through a new procurement process was currently at risk.

3.    It was recommended that a further 36-month extension to the existing contracts be approved. This would provide stability during the local government review period and enable the Council to continue delivering services within a known budget envelope over the next five years.

4.    Members queried if all household waste recycling centres and waste transfer centres would remain open for the entirety of the contract, additionally querying if any views from the recent DOLGE Cabinet Member appointment had given any insights on the most efficient way of procuring the process and driving actions forward.

5.    Mr Wimble confirmed that the number of waste transfer sites would remain unchanged and did not foresee any future closures. Mr Wimble acknowledged the question on the DOLGE Cabinet Member’s involvement with contracts. Mr Chamberlain in addition explained that the current DOLGE aims would review the processes applied to contracts to ensure they were as efficient as possible.

RESOLVED to endorse the proposed decision, namely:

That the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport agree to:

(i)             APPROVE the continuation of the current Household Waste Recycling Centre and Waste Transfer Station operation, management, and haulage contracts in Mid, East, and West Kent (SC18031 and SC18031/WK), by extending the existing arrangements from 18 months to a total of five years, as permitted under the contract terms. The revised contract period will now expire on 31st October 2030.

(ii)            DELEGATE authority to the Director of Environment and Circular Economy in consultation with the Cabinet Member for (the Kent) Environment to award extensions of the contract in accordance with the relevant clauses within the contract as shown at Appendix A