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.