Agenda item

To receive a report from the Head of Operations on the procurement of a Joint Materials Recycling Facility.

(Councillor D M Tysoe, Executive Councillor for Environment, was in attendance for consideration of this item).

The Panel gave consideration to a report by the Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) proposing the joint procurement of a material recycling facility operator to manage and process all the recycling materials collected across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. In introducing the report, the Executive Councillor for Environment reported that the proposal had been developed by the Recycling in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough (RECAP) Waste Partnership and would confirm the waste collections authorities’ commitment to continuing with it.

Having been advised that the proposals related to the bulking, sorting and onward processing of recyclable materials, the Panel gave consideration to the possibility that requirements for the presentation of materials might influence the way in which they were collected. Members therefore, sought assurances that the level of service in Huntingdonshire would not be lowered and that any “levelling” would be to at least the District’s current standards. Similarly, the Panel expressed the view that requirements for the delivery of materials for recycling should not restrict the future development of the service nor the Council’s ability to change the way in which it was delivered should that be necessary in the future.

It was confirmed that the proposals related to “back office” functions and would not affect the delivery of front line services. Whilst market forces would influence the level of income generated, the overall risk would be no greater than if the District Council let its own contract. There was some concern over awarding the contract to a single organisation, which would be in a strong negotiating position. In response, the Executive Councillor for Environment indicated that separate contracts might be put in place for different types of recyclate. This would mitigate the risk of dealing with one company. The possibility that partners might wish to withdraw from the contract was a further area of concern. Members received assurances that the terms of the contract would be legally binding and that financial penalties would be imposed in such cases.

Members drew attention to the fact that the proposal did not contain any reference to scrutiny of the new arrangements. It was suggested that the Governance Agreement should be amended to include provision for scrutiny of the contract and its effect on the waste collection service individually or collectively by the partner local authorities. In considering the recommendations referred to in Section 1 of Annex 1 of the report, the Panel suggested that recommendation 3 should be amended to refer to the fact that the decision to award the contract should be made by the Head of Operations after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Environment. The Executive Councillor for Environment accepted this suggestion. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be recommended to:-

(a)  agree that the Council is committed to the procurement and appointment of a contractor to deliver joint material recycling facility services for bulking, sorting and onward processing/sale of recyclable materials for all participating RECAP partners, unless all partners agree not to appoint;

(b)  approve, on behalf of the Council, the ‘RECAP Partnership Charter’ as attached at Appendix 1, including approval of the additional Schedule 2 Governance Agreement relating to the operation of the joint material recycling facility contract and commitment to participation in and commitment of recyclate materials into the joint contract;

(c)  agree delegation to the Head of Operations after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Environment to authorise the final Invitation to Tender and to award the contract;

(d)  agree that Peterborough City Council will nominate a preferred supplier in collaboration with the participating partners, for the provision of the services of bulking, sorting and onward processing/sale of recyclable materials contract, on behalf of both Peterborough City Council and the RECAP participating partners; and

(e)  note and agree the approach to the Waste Framework Directive compliance regarding source separation of recyclate, as agreed  by the RECAP Board on 4th September 2013 and as attached as Appendix 3 to the report now submitted.