Previous Reference: Minute 56 (2016/17)

The Strategic Director (Place) will present a report (Document “J”) which informs the Committee of the outcome of the procurement for waste treatment services, following a detailed evaluation of bid submissions by the project team.

Recommended –

That the outcome of the procurement for waste treatment services be noted for information.

(Richard Longcake – 01274 432855)

Previous Reference: Minute 56 (2016/17)

The Strategic Director (Place) presented a report (Document “J”) which informed the Committee of the outcome of the procurement for waste treatment services, following a detailed evaluation of bid submissions by the project team.

Members questioned the Principal Officer for Waste Services in some detail in respect of all aspects of the contract, including:-

·         Whether trade waste was included in the contract

·         Costings

·         The process for dealing with residual waste

·         The process for dealing with refuse derived fuel

·         Whether issues of odour would continue to occur in areas of Bradford previously affected

·         The process for dealing with problems of residents not removing their emptied bins from the kerbside in a timely manner

·         Whether the new contract could deal with new housing stock

·         What contingency planning was in place

 In response, the Principal Officer confirmed that trade waste tonnages were included. He stated that the contract price was a fixed price subject to annual indexation, however, should the price received by the contractor for recyclate sales or energy sales exceed a certain threshold, this would trigger a gain share mechanism, resulting in some income coming back to the Council.

He also explained the process for dealing with residual waste, including the location of the contractor’s depots which would be used in both Leeds at Valley Farm Road and Bradford at Canal Road. He went on to explain that, once all recyclates had been removed from Bradford’s waste, the residue was further treated to create a refuse derived fuel, which would be transported by road to Ferrybridge near Pontefract where it would be thermally treated to produce energy.

He advised that, as residual domestic waste would now be delivered to the Council’s two transfer stations, from where it would be bulk hauled to the Valley Farm Road site in Leeds, only a small amount of waste would be dealt with at the Canal Road Depot and this would not be residual waste collected on the refuse round, otherwise known as “black bag waste” so this should reduce the likelihood of future odour problems at this site.

In respect of residents leaving their bins in he street longer than necessary, Members were advised that they should liaise with their local wardens to report and deal with such problems as this was contrary to the Bin Policy and enforcement action could be taken.

Members were also advised that, as the contract was for a twelve year period, with an option for a further three, it included modelling for the impact of population growth and the new alternate weekly collection policy. The maximum and minimum tonnage levels under the contract were also explained.

In respect of contingency planning, the contract had performance guarantees built in to it; any breakdown of the plant in Leeds would be immediately reported to officers in Bradford. It was stressed  that the plant had never broken down since it had begun to be used last year. Contingency capacity existed at the Canal Road site in Bradford and the Leeds Road site in Leeds.  

Resolved –

(1)  That Document “J” be noted and officers be thanked for their work on the procurement process.

(2)  That an annual report be presented in respect of performance against key performance indicators for the new waste treatment services contract, beginning in the summer of 2019.

(3)  That an interim report in respect of the delivery of the new waste treatment services contract be presented in twelve months time.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place