Agenda item

That the Council commence procurement of a waste treatment contract in August 2015.

The Commissioner for Environment & Open Spaces introduced a report seeking approval to commence procurement of a waste treatment contract to meet the requirements of the disposal of residual waste, recycling materials, clinical and hazardous municipal waste streams.

The Council had a statutory responsibility for the collection, management and disposal of municipal waste and Commissioners were briefed on the current contractual arrangements.  The Environmental Strategy & Governance Manager set out the issues and challenges local authorities faced in relation to waste and summarised the significant financial implications and opportunities arising from the re-procurement.  The Council’s current contract for waste treatment ended in 2017 and it was recommended that that procurement commence in advance of this date due to the competitiveness of the market for residual waste treatment, particularly in view of the ‘capacity gap’ between waste produced and disposal infrastructure.

Speaking under Rule 30, Councillor Strutton asked about the impact Heathrow expansion would have on the Lakeside Energy from Waste facility and the cost of relocation.  It was responded that the future risk had been identified; however the procurement exercise would explore all of the available options and was not tied to any single infrastructure.  The Leader highlighted that the Council’s support for the third runway at Heathrow had been conditional of reproviding the Energy from Waste plant with our compromising the Council’s target to send 0% waste to landfill and with no break in service.

The Cabinet considered the key drivers behind the outcomes of a waste treatment contract as detailed in paragraph 5.12 of the report and agreed to commence procurement of a waste treatment contract.

Resolved –  That the Council commence procurement of a waste treatment contract in August 2015.

(Councillor Sharif left the meeting)