The meeting covered several topics, including the transfer of ownership of the Drill Hall, the purchase and refurbishment of refuse collection vehicles, the retendering of the arboricultural contract, and the approval of additional housing grants. No public questions were received, and several new councillors were welcomed.

Drill Hall Transfer

The first stage of transferring ownership of the Drill Hall to Life Spring Church has passed. The Hall is a registered asset of community value, and no community groups submitted an Expression of Interest by the deadline. The sale is expected to conclude in the autumn.

Purchase of Refuse Collection Vehicles

Councillor Jay Mercer introduced a report seeking authority to purchase two new 15-ton refuse collection vehicles. These vehicles will replace older ones, one of which was involved in an accident in December 2023. The new vehicles will have a redesigned structure to mitigate the risk of future accidents. The budget for this purchase is $140,000, and no additional funds are requested. The recommendation was unanimously approved.

Refuse Vehicle Refurbishment Tender Award

Councillor Jay Mercer also discussed the need to award a new contract for the refurbishment of refuse collection vehicles. The previous contractor failed to meet deadlines and quality standards, leading to the termination of the contract on May 3, 2024. A new procurement exercise identified a replacement contractor. Councillor Serkis raised concerns about the lack of full indemnification for the breach of contract and the need for vehicle modifications for future food waste collections. The recommendation to award the new contract was unanimously approved.

Retender of Arboricultural Contract

Councillor David Skipp introduced a report on retendering the arboricultural contract for tree inspection and works on council-owned land. The previous contract was terminated by mutual consent due to the contractor's inability to deliver services as per the contract terms. An interim solution using local contractors is in place. The new contract will be advertised in October, with the award expected in December or January. The recommendation to approve the procurement exercise was unanimously approved.

Housing Grants Approval

Councillor Sam Raby introduced a report seeking approval for an additional budget to receive a homelessness prevention grant of £266,546 from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities¹. The grant will be used to prevent and relieve homelessness. The recommendation to approve the receipt and budget increase was unanimously approved.

Use of Chief Executive's Emergency Powers

The Director of Resources reported on the use of the Chief Executive's emergency powers to award a one-year extension on the insurance contract due to expire on March 31, 2024. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee will review this matter in detail. The report was noted.