Issue - meetings

Councillor Wesley Harcourt stated that this report requested approval for a procurement strategy for the waste collection, recycling and street cleansing services, currently provided by Serco, from 30 January 2023 to October 2032.

In response to a question from Councillor Adam Connell, Councillor Harcourt replied that the Council had declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency, which had as a key area to reduce waste. The selected service provider would need to be committed to minimise the levels of household waste produced and increase the percentage of waste collected that could be recycled. There should also be a proactive engagement with residents about a more ecological food waste disposal, and also to work with residents to reduce the amount of wasted food they produced.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS PRESENT:

1.    To note that Appendix 1 is exempt from disclosure on the grounds that it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of a particular person (including the authority holding that information) under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

2.    To approve in accordance with the Council’s Contract Standing Order (CSO) 18.1 the procurement strategy for the waste collection, recycling and street cleansing services. The contract is estimated to start on 30^th January 2023 to October 2032, with options to extend for a further eight years.

3.    To delegate authority to the Strategic Director for the Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for the Environment, to approve minor changes to the procurement process or to the evaluation methodology as set out in procurement strategy, for operational reasons if required.