Agenda item

            The Sub-Committee considered a report which sought authority to carry out all the necessary steps in relation to the procurement of the following contracts:

(i)            Landfill Disposal; and

(ii)        Interim arrangements for the Management and Operation of Recycling and Household Waste Centres; (Civic Amenity Sites).

            The Council’s contractual arrangements for all Landfill Disposal and the Management and Operation of the Civic Amenity Sites end on 31^st January 2008 and authority was sought to put in place contractual arrangements for these services as from 1^st February 2008.

            At its meeting on 21^st September 2006, the Executive Board resolved that a formal partnership with the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority be established for the procurement of appropriate Waste Treatment and Disposal for Services and Facilities. (EXB40/2006 refers).

            The Council was to be included in the joint procurement arrangements for the management and operation of the Council’s Civic Amenity Sites as from October 2008, but not the Landfill Disposal Contract as the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority (MWDA) had already issued an OJEU Notice and PQQ for Landfill Disposal. The Council’s Consultants had not finalised their advice to the Council as to future arrangements with the MWDA and as such a number of contingencies had to be provided.

            The Landfill Disposal Contract would commence on 1^st February 2008. Halton would seek to participate with the MWDA on joint landfill disposal arrangements at the first opportunity. Given the review periods within the MWDA contract, the period of contract could be between 5 years and 8 months and 8 years and 8 months. The estimated value was as follows:

-            Estimated annual value - £621.000;

-            Estimated value for 5 years and 8 months

            - £3.90m

-            Estimated value for 8 years and 8 months

            - £6.98m

            With regard to the provision of interim arrangements for the management and operation of recycling and household waste centre (Civic Amenity Sites), it was proposed that the estimated value from 1^st February 2008 for a period of 8 months would be £690,000 (excluding  Landfill Tax), based on the existing specification.

            Despite the position set out above, the Council’s consultants were still evaluating the process of integrating into the arrangements being prepared by the MWDA. There were a number of potential outcomes of that evaluation which could impact on the Council’s proposals for either or both of the contracts, details of which and the possible contingency arrangements were outlined in the report.

            RESOLVED: That

(1)       the Operational Director, Environmental and Regulatory Services, be authorised in consultation with the Portfolioholder for Environment, Leisure and Sport, to proceed with the procurement process as outlined in the report and to take all steps deemed appropriate (including the selection of tenderers) up to the point of receipt of tenders;

(2)       the tenders be reported back to the Executive Board Sub Committee for decision;

(3)       should negotiations with the MWDA result in a conclusion that the subject matter of proposed Landfill Disposal Contract (Contract A) could be included within arrangements being entered into by the MWDA, the Operational Director, Environmental and Regulatory Services, shall be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolioholder for Environment, Leisure and Sport, to negotiate with the MWDA on that basis and shall be authorised to proceed with Contract A on the basis of the same contract period as proposed in Contract B; and

(4)            subject to the sanction of the European Commission to the non- application of the Public Procurement Rules, authority be given to negotiate extensions to Contracts A and/or B.