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Cabinet - Wednesday, 26th June, 2024 5.30 pm

June 26, 2024 View on council website Watch video of meeting
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Summary

The Cabinet of Horsham Council met on 26 June 2024 to discuss several key issues, including the purchase and refurbishment of refuse collection vehicles, the retendering of the arboricultural contract, and the approval of additional housing grants. Decisions were made to approve the purchase of new refuse collection vehicles, award a contract for the refurbishment of existing vehicles, and initiate a new procurement process for arboricultural services. Additionally, the Cabinet recommended to the Council the acceptance and allocation of an additional Homelessness Prevention Grant.

Purchase of Two 15 Tonne Refuse Collection Vehicles

Councillor Jay Mercer, Cabinet Member for Environmental Health, Recycling & Waste, introduced a report recommending the purchase of two new 15-tonne refuse collection vehicles. The existing vehicles, used for isolated property rounds, had suffered extensive wear and tear. The new vehicles will feature a redesigned structure to mitigate accident risks, following an incident in December 2023. The Cabinet approved the purchase and the awarding of the contract to the winning bidder.

The safety of our staff is paramount, and the recent incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential risks associated with operating aging vehicles, said Councillor Jay Mercer.

Refuse Vehicle Refurbishment Tender Award

Councillor Jay Mercer also discussed the need to award a contract for the refurbishment of 13 remaining refuse collection vehicles. The previous contractor's contract had been terminated, necessitating a new procurement exercise. The Cabinet approved the awarding of the contract to the new supplier, as named in Appendix B, and delegated authority to the Director of Communities to finalise the terms.

Refurbishing the fleet will extend their usability for another six years, providing an opportunity for alternative fuel options to become more accessible at a reasonable price, noted Councillor Jay Mercer.

Retender of the Arboricultural Contract

Councillor David Skipp, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Green Spaces, introduced a report on retendering the arboricultural contract. The previous contract, initiated in April 2022, was terminated by mutual agreement. The Cabinet approved the commencement of a new procurement exercise and the awarding of the contract to the winning bidder.

To ensure the provision of arboricultural services on council-owned land, stated Councillor David Skipp.

Housing Grants - Approval of Budget

Councillor Sam Raby, Cabinet Member for Housing, Communities and Wellbeing, presented a report recommending the approval of an additional budget for housing grants. The Council had received an additional £266,546 from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) for homelessness prevention. The Cabinet recommended to the Council to approve the receipt and expenditure of this grant.

The additional grant will allow the Council to provide appropriate housing options and prevent homelessness, thereby reducing the impact on the General Fund, explained Councillor Sam Raby.

Report on Use of Chief Executive's Emergency Powers

The Director of Resources reported on the exercise of the Chief Executive’s emergency powers by the Acting Chief Executive on 28 March 2024. The Cabinet noted the contents of the report, as required by the Council’s Constitution.

The meeting concluded with no matters of special urgency to be considered.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the Minutes 22052024 Cabinet.

Attendees

Profile image for Councillor Martin Boffey
Councillor Martin Boffey  Leader of the Council •  Liberal Democrats •  Trafalgar
Councillor John Milne
Profile image for Councillor Mark Baynham
Councillor Mark Baynham  Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources •  Liberal Democrats •  Billingshurst
Profile image for Councillor Colette Blackburn
Councillor Colette Blackburn  Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery •  Liberal Democrats •  Southwater South and Shipley
Profile image for Councillor Ruth Fletcher
Councillor Ruth Fletcher  Cabinet Member for Planning and Infrastructure •  Liberal Democrats •  Denne
Profile image for Councillor Anthony Frankland
Councillor Anthony Frankland  Cabinet Member for Performance, Customer Service and Communications •  Liberal Democrats •  Trafalgar
Profile image for Councillor Jay Mercer
Councillor Jay Mercer  Cabinet Member for Environmental Health, Recycling and Waste •  Liberal Democrats •  Roffey South
Profile image for Councillor Sam Raby
Councillor Sam Raby  Cabinet Member for Housing, Communities and Wellbeing •  Liberal Democrats •  Roffey South
Profile image for Councillor David Skipp
Councillor David Skipp  Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Green Spaces •  Liberal Democrats •  Forest
Profile image for Councillor Roger Noel
Councillor Roger Noel  Conservative •  Bramber, Upper Beeding and Woodmancote
Profile image for Councillor Mike Croker
Councillor Mike Croker  Green Party Group Leader •  Green Party •  Bramber, Upper Beeding and Woodmancote
Profile image for Councillor Emma Beard
Councillor Emma Beard  Green Party •  Storrington and Washington
Profile image for Councillor Nigel Emery
Councillor Nigel Emery  Chairman of the Council •  Liberal Democrats •  Holbrook West
Profile image for Councillor Nick Grant
Councillor Nick Grant  Liberal Democrats •  Holbrook East
Profile image for Councillor Joanne Knowles
Councillor Joanne Knowles  Cabinet Member for Enterprise & Property •  Liberal Democrats •  Cowfold, Shermanbury and West Grinstead
Profile image for Councillor Tricia Youtan
Councillor Tricia Youtan  Conservative •  Itchingfield, Slinfold and Warnham