Bin firm is fined £1m by council
AMEY ‘DID NOT MEET STANDARDS OF SERVICE’
A COUNCIL has slapped the firm paid millions to empty bins and clean streets with fines totalling almost £1m for a catalogue of failings.
Amey is responsible for delivering environmental services in Trafford for the next 23 years, costing £12m a year.
The deal was signed between Amey and the council, then under Tory rule, in 2015 – and was labelled ‘groundbreaking’ at the time.
However, things soon began to go wrong. The authority was bombarded with complaints about dirty streets, filthy parks and overflowing bins often left unemptied.
This has resulted in the firm being hit with hefty penalties for missed bin collections and failing to maintain pitches, parks and street lighting.
Amey say they have ‘identified areas of service that need to improve’ and are working with the council.
Angered by poor service, Trafford resident Kevin Parker quizzed the council in a Freedom of Information request how the firm performed last year – and if any financial penalties were issued.
He said: “I was astonished by Amey’s failings, which have resulted in fines totalling nearly £1m. Perhaps these latest performance indicators are just scratching the service on how abysmal the company really is.
“Based on reports, let us hope that positive changes are put in place, either with or without Amey as the service provider.”
The authority, now governed by Labour, has set up a ‘task and finish’ group to unearth why things went so wrong with the partnership.
Meanwhile, the council and Trafford Partnership said they are committed to working with Amey to improve services.
A spokesman said: “We acknowledge the concerns of residents and the council’s scrutiny committee is undertaking a review of the contract. A report for the council will be published in due course.”
The spokesman added: “The fines, which will be invested in highways and waste management, demonstrate that Amey did not meet the standards of service in some areas, but it did in a range of other measures.
“Services have undergone improvements and we will be working hard to ensure they continually meet the expectations of residents.”
A spokesman from Amey said key performance indicators are a normal part of public contracts.
They said: “They’re there to ensure that taxpayers get the value and quality of service that they deserve and that we, as a responsible company, are committed to providing.
“Together with the council, we have identified the areas of the service that need to improve and we are working closely to achieve the agreed standards to make the One Trafford Partnership a long-term success.”