Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approve the option of undertaking a collaborative procurement and award a contract for the provision of Household Waste Recycling Centres in the borough using the Contract Procedure Rules of Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council and approve the leasing of the 4 HWRCs to the successful provider.

2.    Receive a further update on the Household Waste Recycling service offer before the new contract commences.

3.    Approve the changes to the practice at the HWRCs to align with DEFRA’s final national proposals, following its consultation on household DIY waste.

Consideration was given to the report which explained that approval was sought to enter into a joint procurement with Barnsley and Doncaster Councils for Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC). The current Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) contract had been in place since October 2018 and was delivered in partnership with Barnsley and Doncaster Councils. In October 2023 the current contract expires. Waste officers from Rotherham have been exploring the options available for future service delivery.

Work had been undertaken on improving the current provision through a potential new contact should that option be selected. This would be done by aligning operational polices, such as opening times, vehicle access, material acceptance or permitting conditions, where possible across the 3 Councils.

The Council’s net budget 2022-23 for the HWRC Service was £1.023m. The budget covered the payment to maintain the joint service with Barnsley and Doncaster. The selection of the preferred option, the collaborative procurement of the HWRC Management contract, was expected to be the lowest cost option, even with service changes being proposed. Appraisal of the option of bringing the Service in-house found the cost would increase by £0.4m or more. As such this option, as well as the option to seek to tender for a contract for Rotherham Council alone, had been rejected.

Consultation was currently underway and sought views on the implementation and delivery of services such as Automatic Number Plate Recognition, permit systems, commercial waste, hard to recycle materials and contractual changes. The operational changes suggested were outlined in paragraphs 1.7 to 1.14 of the report. Social value was also an important part of the procurement exercise.

Cabinet was also asked to approve the changes to the operational procedures relating to DEFRA’s recent consultation proposals to permit construction type waste resulting from household DIY home projects. The consultation referred to 300 litres (average car boot size) no more than once per week, however, any changes to local policy would mirror the final changes to be made nationally both in terms of specification and timing of any change.

Resolved:-

That Cabinet:

1.    Approve the option of undertaking a collaborative procurement and award a contract for the provision of Household Waste Recycling Centres in the Borough using the Contract Procedure Rules of Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council and approve the leasing of the 4 HWRC to the successful provider.

2.    Receive a further update on the Household Waste Recycling service offer before the new contract commences.

3.    Approve the changes to the practice at the HWRC to align with DEFRA’s final national proposals, following its consultation on household DIY waste.