Purpose

To present the outcome and recommendations following a quantitative and qualitative options appraisal of the current and potential future operational arrangements for the Waste Collections and Street Scene Services.

Decision

Waste Collection and Street Scene Services were currently delivered through an in-house arrangement in the north of the county and through an outsourced contract (currently with Veolia until 2030) in the south of the county. Waste Collection and Street Scene Services were a key priority for the Council, residents and businesses, with an average of 627,000 collections made per week in Buckinghamshire.

The Cabinet report proposed that the Council implemented a single, outsourced model for the delivery of Waste Collections and Street Scene Services from October 2029, replacing the current ‘mixed economy’ of service provision (delivered in-house in the North of the county, and outsourced in the South). The recommendation followed an assessment of a range of potential delivery options against qualitative and quantitative criteria, with the single outsourced option scoring highest in both the elements of the appraisal and also following sensitivity analysis. Aligning North and South operations under a single, county wide, high quality contracted model was expected to enhance value for money for the Council and provide year on year savings. Given the scale of the new contract, the opportunity Buckinghamshire presented, and the buoyancy and maturity of the outsourced market, it was anticipated that the procurement would attract significant market interest / competition from major suppliers and promote a competitive procurement process.

The proposal was to align current services into a single outsourced contract, ensuring residents experience a consistent service with no reduction in current standards. Equality considerations would be included in the contract specification to safeguard inclusion, and the EqIA (Appendix 6) would be kept under review and updated as / when required. The proposal would ensure continued, high-standard waste and street scene services for everyone living, working, studying, or visiting Buckinghamshire.

RESOLVED that

1. 1.      a single outsourced model for Waste Collection and Street Scene services in Buckinghamshire, with a staggered start (October 2029 for Northern services and September 2030 for Southern services) be implemented.
2. 2.      the procurement process for a single (county-wide) contract be started from April 2026, with an expected service commencement date of October 2029.
3. 3.      authority be delegated to the Service Director for Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Waste, to lead a compliant procurement process, including adherence to procurement regulation, Procurement Act 2023.
4. 4.      following the procurement process, Cabinet to approve the award of the contract to provide Waste Collection and Street Scene services in Buckinghamshire.